The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has finalized changes to two of its general permits for feedlots, affecting operations with 1,000 or more animal units. These changes, set to take effect in June 2025 and February 2026, have created a mix of concerns and relief among farmers across the state. The new regulations introduce several measures aimed at improving manure management and protecting the environment, but they also come with added responsibilities that some farmers find challenging.

Key Changes to Feedlot Permits

Among the most significant changes is the introduction of an online tool for developing manure management plans. This tool aims to streamline the process for feedlot owners and operators, providing an accessible platform to create and manage their manure applications. Another major change is the new requirement for tracking data when manure is transferred from one feedlot owner to another. This will allow better monitoring of how manure is applied and whether best management practices are followed. The MPCA has also implemented specific prohibitions on certain manure application methods to ensure that they align with sustainable agricultural practices.

Many stakeholders, including Matthew Sheets, a policy organizer with the Land Stewardship Project (LSP), view these changes as a positive step forward. “These are steps in the right direction,” Sheets said. His organization, which advocates for sustainable agriculture, has long supported measures that help reduce environmental impacts while maintaining effective farm operations.

Open Comment Period Brings Mixed Reactions

Before finalizing the plan, the MPCA held an open comment period during which individuals from various agricultural backgrounds expressed their concerns and opinions. While some voiced support for the changes, others raised important questions about the practicality and fairness of certain regulations.

Sheets, while generally supportive of the new measures, emphasized the importance of tracking manure application. He believes that requiring feedlot owners to ensure proper manure application will help protect the environment. However, he also advocated for more focus on tracking groundwater quality, suggesting that manure management is just one aspect of a broader environmental strategy.

On the other hand, Loren Dauer, the public policy director at the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation, expressed concerns about the logistics of manure application tracking. He worried that feedlot owners, who are already responsible for manure management, would be tasked with gathering data on how manure is used by the recipients. Dauer proposed that the MPCA should collect this information directly from the recipients rather than placing the burden on the original feedlot operator.

Ensuring Compliance: A Challenge for Some Farmers

One of the more contentious points of the new regulations is the expectation that feedlot owners will ensure compliance when selling or transferring manure. Glen Groth, president of the Winona County Farm Bureau Federation, questioned how farmers could be held responsible for ensuring that their neighbors follow the regulations. “How do you make sure they comply with it?” Groth asked. “What happens if they say, ‘Yes, I’ll put down the cover crop,’ but then don’t follow through?”

The MPCA has made it clear that feedlot owners are expected to take action if recipients fail to adhere to the regulations. If a recipient consistently neglects to follow best management practices, the feedlot owner may choose to cease doing business with them. In extreme cases, the MPCA can take enforcement action against the recipient.

Despite these concerns, Sheets believes that the regulations are not as burdensome as they might seem. “It’s just one of the bare minimum things we can do to support best management practices,” he said. For Sheets and others at LSP, these requirements are necessary to ensure that manure application is done in an environmentally responsible manner.

Addressing Best Management Practices and Groundwater Protection

The new permit regulations also introduce specific best management practices (BMPs) for manure application. These include applying manure to growing crops, planting cover crops, and using other methods to minimize nutrient runoff into the environment. In areas designated as “vulnerable groundwater areas,” additional restrictions apply.

However, some farmers, especially those in regions with sensitive groundwater, are worried about how these new BMPs will impact their operations. Dauer pointed out that many farmers already face challenges in adhering to the Groundwater Protection rules, which prohibit the use of commercial fertilizers during the fall. These restrictions are especially problematic for farmers who rely on manure to meet their nutrient needs, as the new regulations add further complexity to nutrient management plans.

Groth, although less concerned about the impact on his own operations, noted that other farmers in his region are anxious about the potential consequences of the new rules. One of the primary concerns is the added cost of storing manure, particularly if the new regulations require farmers to apply manure in the spring rather than the fall.

Potential Economic Impact

Farmers are also worried about the financial implications of the new regulations. Groth explained that requiring manure to be applied in the spring could increase the amount of storage space required, leading to higher costs for farmers. Additionally, the short window between the thawing of the ground and the planting season could make it difficult for farmers to apply manure in a timely and responsible manner.

Groth’s concerns extend beyond just the logistics of manure application. He also fears that the new rules could be used as a precedent for expanding regulations to smaller farms. In Winona County, many farmers are just on the edge of needing a feedlot permit, and Groth worries that the threshold for applying these regulations could be lowered in the future, potentially affecting hundreds of farms in the area.

Looking Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities for Farmers

While some farmers are concerned about the potential for expanded regulations, others see the changes as an opportunity to reinvigorate the dairy industry. Groth suggested that one way to improve groundwater quality while supporting the farming community would be to encourage more dairies. He believes that promoting perennial crop production, such as alfalfa, could reduce nitrate contamination in groundwater while providing feed for dairy cows.

The full impact of these changes will unfold over the coming years, but for now, farmers are bracing for new regulations that will shape the future of feedlot management in Minnesota. While some view the changes as necessary for environmental protection, others worry that they may place unnecessary burdens on farmers, especially those with smaller operations.

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