Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Media contact: Forrest Peterson, 320-214-3789 Technical contact: Dave Wall, 651-296-8440 St. Paul, Minn. - With fall harvest winding down many livestock producers will be applying manure to cropland and begin planning for the spring planting season. Manure is valuable as fertilizer if managed properly. State feedlot rules require certain producers to develop a manure management plan or hire a commercial applicator. By Jan. 1, 2006, owners of feedlots with 300 or more animal units must have an updated manure management plan. The only exception is for producers who use a Commercial Animal Waste Technician to apply all their manure. Manure management plans and professional applicators help ensure the efficient and effective use of livestock manure as crop fertilizer while preventing it from contaminating wetlands, streams and lakes. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture certifies and licenses Commercial Animal Waste Technicians. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) regulates manure storage and usage, and provides manure management plan guides and forms. The University of Minnesota Extension Service conducts workshops on writing manure management plans. The MPCA also encourages all producers who use a licensed commercial applicator to voluntarily develop a manure management plan to ensure that nutrient rate standards, setbacks from waters, and other requirements are met, and to maximize the many benefits of manure. Manure management plans include:
· Manure storage, handling and testing practices;
· Field locations and acreage used for spreading manure;
· Field-specific nutrient management; and
· Sensitive areas management.
Minnesota feedlot rules administered by the MPCA require all manure management plans to be kept up-to-date. They must be reviewed annually to include changes in crop rotations, manure amounts, manure nutrient levels, fields used for application and/or other practices that affect the available nutrient amounts or crop nutrient needs. Manure management plans do not need to be submitted for review unless specifically requested by the MPCA or a county feedlot officer, or when needed as part of a permit application. However, producers may be asked to show their updated manure management plan and associated records when their feedlot is inspected. More information about manure management plans, specific record-keeping requirements, and local contacts is available at the MPCA Web site at hhref="/hot/feedlot-management, the University of Minnesota manure Web site at http://manure.coafes.umn.edu, or by calling your county feedlot officer or regional MPCA feedlot program representative. The University of Minnesota Extension Service offers manure management plan writing workshops to help producers learn more about nutrient management and economics. Many producers are able to significantly reduce fertilizer expenses. County feedlot officers, Soil and Water Conservation Districts and others can invite farmers to participate in the workshops offered through May 2006. Information on organizing a small-group workshop is available on the Web at http://manure.coafes.umn.edu/assets/SmallGroup319Brochure, or by contacting Kevin Blanchet at 651-480-7739 or blanc013@umn.edu. Anyone who passes an open-book exam and recertifies as required can obtain a Certified Animal Waste Technician license. Information is available on the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Web site at http://www.mda.state.mn.us/appd/cawt/default.htm.