CHATFIELD, Minn. — It was standing room only at the Chatfield Center for the Arts on June 26 as farmers and rural residents sought to have their voices heard on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's decision to change the rules and requirements of large feedlots in the state.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is seeking input on an update to its animal feedlot rules, which regulate about 17,000 sites in the state. It's been 25 years since the last big update.
The MPCA hosted its first round of information sessions this month that covered history of feedlot rules, summary of current requirements, reasons for change, technical standards, expected timeline and more. Sessions started June 3 with visits to Hinckley and Little Falls and ended on June 26 with stops in Chatfield and Zumbrota.
George Schwint, principal engineer for the MPCA's feedlot program, said the first round of informational presentations on feedlot rule changes was "really constructive."
Making comments count
"A lot of good comments, which is what we're here to get, is feedback from farmers, producers, people out in landscape, in their area, what's working with the feedlot rules? What's not working with the feed lot rules? What do you think of these concepts that we're considering?" Schwindt said. "A lot of common themes from site to site, a lot of a lot of similar questions."
Schwint said the comments heard in southeast Minnesota represent an area where there's a lot of attention surround the issue of contaminated water through ag runoff.
"We heard more about karst geology here, for instance, maybe a little more focus on nitrates here, because the southeast part of the state, we have maybe some elevated levels in this part of the state," Schwint said.
MPCA Community Affairs Specialist Lisa Weidemann said to have comments considered in the process, they need to be submitted in writing. She gave some tips for public comments to be productive to the rulemaking process, which the deadline for is July 22.
"When you're making that comment, it always helps if you can be specific. It definitely helps if you can state any justifications," Weidemann said.
She said commenters should feel free to submit any technical documents that go along with their input.
Schwint said providing data or documents to back up a comment may be helpful, but it's not required, and personal stories are welcome.
"Such as, our family's been here for 100 years farming this ground, and we take care of it," he sai.d "We do X, Y and Z practices."
Include economic concerns with rule changes to feedlot requirements, Schwint said.
"We realize there's going to be some economic cost to compliance, and to change things," he said. "For instance to make more (manure) storage is going to cost a lot of money to put in sites if they want to eliminate winter application or do nitrogen BMPs, if they have storage to be able to do those things. For smaller farms, that's a large expense."
Concerns
Amy Cordry said she came to the meeting in Fillmore County on June 26 as a rural stakeholder.
"I came here today as an almost 50-year farm owner and having owned a beef herd, and having had to get rid of that beef herd because the cost inputs," said Cordry, who is also a member of the Izaak Walton League's Save Our Streams program and a volunteer monitor for the MPCA. "I have a great interest in the interaction of all those things, as well as owning a rural well that we drink from."
Cordry said she understands the multi-year rulemaking process for feedlot requirements because it's a "complicated issue." She empathized with the farmers at the meeting who voiced their disapproval for the process.
"I think it's difficult for people to understand how complicated and long it gets, and it gets to be drawn out," she said. "I think that makes people impatient."
There are several comments Cordry is planning to submit, with one being about the application of manure.
"Being in a heavy rural area, heavy ag, I have witnessed so many situations where manure has caused a problem," she said. "Manure application on frozen ground, on steep slopes, feedlots, inadequate manure storage, which is a problem not only for the farmer, but for the folks who suffer the consequences when a spill happens."
Still early
MPCA leaders reminded those who came out to informational meetings that the process of changing feedlot rules is only just beginning, and will take years to finalize.
"It's always great to be involved early, and it's definitely helpful for us, and it helps guide the rule making," Weidemann said. "There will be additional engagement periods in the coming years, both informal and blend of online and in person, as well as formal comment periods as we move towards that rule making implementation."
Comments on the animal feedlot rules are open until 4:30 p.m. on July 22, 2025. For more information on submitting comments, visit https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/wq-rule4-29a.pdf. For general information on the rule making process, visit https://www.pca.state.mn.us/get-engaged/animal-feedlots.
Submit written comments or information to the Office of Administrative Hearings Rulemaking e-Comments website at https://minnesotaoah.granicusideas.com/discussions. Any questions about submitting comments via the Rulemaking e-Comments website should be directed to William Moore, Office of Administrative Hearings, telephone 651-361-7893, [email protected].