The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency fined Caledonia feedlot owner Mike Ingvalson $10,000 for multiple violations related to improper manure application and discharges as well as an unpermitted building.
In July of 2025, MPCA staff conducted an inspection in response to a complaint and confirmed Ingvalson applied manure on a road ditch adjacent to his lot, which is prohibited. During the same inspection, staff observed multiple instances of manure-contaminated runoff discharging into intermittent streams that flow into Beaver Creek, which is legally protected under the Department of Natural Resources' public waters inventory.
Investigators also noted Ingvalson created an open lot and built a partial confinement barn in his feed storage area without a permit.
In addition to paying the $10,000 fine, Ingvalson will discontinue applying manure to the road ditch, install runoff controls on his property, apply for a permit for the unpermitted open lot and partial barn, and have an engineer evaluate his manure handling system to identify and correct deficiencies.
The MPCA remains committed to protecting human health and the environment by enforcing rules and regulations and limiting pollution and discharges from facilities. When facilities do not fully comply with regulatory requirements, the resulting pollution can be harmful to people and the environment.
When calculating penalties, the MPCA considers how seriously the violations affected or could have affected the environment, and whether they were first-time or repeat violations. The agency also attempts to recover the economic benefit the company gained by failing to comply with environmental laws in a timely manner.