The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) regulated the collection, transportation, storage, processing, and disposal of animal manure and other livestock operation wastes. The MPCA Feedlot Program implements rules governing these activities and aid counties and the livestock industry. The feedlot rules apply to most aspects of livestock management including location, design, construction, operation, and management of feedlots and manure handling facilities. In certain counties, the feedlot program is conducted through a cooperative arrangement between the MPCA and county government. These counties are referred to as "delegated counties".

A delegated county is responsible for implementing state feedlot regulations for facilities with fewer than 1,000 animal units. These responsibilities include registration, permitting, inspections, education assistance, and complaint follow-up. Houston County is a delegated county.

What is the Feedlot Program?
In Houston County, registration is required for a feedlot of 50 animal units or more unless within the shoreland district. Registration is also required for any feedlot that has been deemed a potential pollution hazard. The Feedlot Officer helps producers with permitting, registrations, inspections, education assistance, and compliance with the State of Minnesota Chapter 7020 Feedlot Rules.

Benefits of the Feedlot Program
The growing importance of the County Feedlot Program stems from the success of existing programs and the recognition that counties have considerable experience and sensitivity to the local practices and conditions that can help to expedite feedlot owners permitting needs and compliance concerns. This includes knowledge and understanding of soils, high-priority watersheds, and an understanding of local zoning and land use plans, ordinances, and issues. County staff has the advantage of being part of a network of agencies where technical assistance and other programs can be coordinated to support the needs of the local feedlot owner. 

Registration data allows the MPCA to identify feedlots according to active or inactive sites, and number of animals at the site and location. This information helps prioritize those operations with the greatest pollution risk and to work with owners if a pollution hazard is present. 

Feedlot Registration
Minnesota law requires most feedlot owners to register their feedlot with the MCPA. Feedlot owners are required to update their registration information within a four-year cycle. Registration information includes:

• Location
• Type of operation
• Number of livestock including poultry

A feedlot is required to register based on the number of animal units (au). The number of au is calculated by multiplying the number of animals by the au factors (i.e. 50 dairy calves x 0.2 = 10 au). Owners of the following operations must register:

• All feedlots with 50 or more au.
• Feedlots located in shoreland with 10 or more au.

Shoreland, in most instances, refers to land that is 1,000 feet or less from a lake or 300 feet or less from a river or stream. In rare, instances, land near large ponds, wetlands, or ditches can be classified as shoreland.

Livestock operations that are only pastures do not need to be registered. Minnesota Rules Chapter 7020 defines pasture as an area where grass or other growing plants are used for grazing, and where the concentration of animals is such that a vegetation cover is maintained during the growing season, except in the immediate vicinity of supplemental feeding or water devices.

The County Feedlot Officer will mail registration forms to feedlot owners that need to update their registration information. Registration can be completed by filling out the registration form with the necessary information and returning it to the Zoning & Planning Department. Otherwise, an online feedlot registration can be found here: Feedlot Registration

Manure Management
A Manure Management Plan (MMP) illustrates how manure is going to be utilized during the upcoming crop year to maximize the nutrients form manure and yet protect surface groundwater resources. MMPs are encouraged for all feedlots but are required for any facility as part of a feedlot permit application. 

Land application records document the manure application activities taking place in the current crop year and those that happened in previous crop years. Information from records is used to calculate the amount of nitrogen from manure application that will be available for the crop grown the following year. Any feedlots with 100 or more au must keep records of land application activities. Individuals that do not own a feedlot but receive and land apply manure from a feedlot with 100 or more au must keep records of land application activities.