Minnesota’s feedlot regulations encompass both overarching rules and specific permits, each serving distinct purposes in managing livestock operations. Minnesota Trout Unlimited recently submitted comments to inform the revision of Minnesota’s General Feedlot Permits. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has now opened a comment period for Minnesota’s Animal Feedlot’s Rule specifically “to amend existing feedlot rules to improve land application of manure practices to address nitrate and fish kills, establish additional technical standards to protect water quality and avoid fish kills.”

Rules vs. Permits: What’s the difference?

The Minnesota feedlot rule establishes comprehensive standards for the management of animal feedlots and manure storage facilities. It governs various aspects, including:

• Construction and Operation: Guidelines for the design, location, and operation of feedlots.

• Manure Management: Regulations on storage, transportation, disposal, and utilization of animal manure and wastewater processing.
• Environmental Protection: Measures to prevent pollution and protect water quality.

These rules apply broadly to all feedlot operations across the state, ensuring a baseline of environmental and public health protection.

Specific feedlot permits are issued to regulate individual operations based on their size and potential environmental impact, in comparison with the feedlot rule which provides general requirements, The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) administers several types of feedlot permits including National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), State Disposal System (SDS) Permits, Construction Short-Form (CSF) and Interim Permits. These permits include specific conditions tailored to the operation, such as manure management plans, land application requirements, and monitoring protocols.

Key Differences Between Feedlot Rules and Feedlot Permits

• Scope:
  • Feedlot Rule: Applies universally to feedlot operations, setting general standards.
  • Feedlot Permits: Apply to specific operations based on size, location, and environmental impact.
• Function:
  • Feedlot Rule: Establishes baseline requirements for all feedlots.
  • Feedlot Permits: Impose additional, operation-specific conditions to ensure compliance with environmental standards.
• Enforcement:
  • Feedlot Rule: Violations can lead to enforcement actions applicable to all feedlots.
  • Feedlot Permits: Non-compliance with permit conditions can result in penalties specific to the permitted operation.

Submitting Feedlot Rule Comments

Minnesota Trout Unlimited (MNTU) will be contributing comments on feedlot rulemaking because of the direct and serious impact that poorly regulated feedlots can have on the coldwater streams, rivers, and groundwater that trout depend on.

Here’s a breakdown of why:

1. Water Quality Impacts

• Feedlots produce large volumes of manurethat can carry a variety of chemicals and nutrients including nitrogen, ammonia, and sediment into nearby waterways.
• Nitrates reduce the size and potentially survival of trout populations and impact the macroinvertebrate populations trout depend on for food.
• Ammonia is directly toxic to fish at even relatively low concentrations and has been tied to recent fish kills in southeast Minnesota.
• Excess nutrients can cause algae blooms that reduce oxygen levels, killing aquatic insects and stressing or killing trout.

2. Groundwater Contamination

• Trout streams depend on clean, cold groundwater.
• Many feedlots are located in the southeast Minnesota karst region, where groundwater moves quickly through cracks and sinkholes.
• Nitrate pollution from manure can easily seep into aquifers, threatening groundwater-fed trout streams.

3. Habitat Degradation

• Poor manure management can cause erosion and sedimentation in rivers and streams.
• Sediment covers up the gravel beds trout need for spawning and reduces aquatic insect populations which are the base of the trout food chain.

4. Rulemaking is an Important Opportunity

• Feedlot rule updates can strengthen protections or weaken them. It’s important for all stakeholders to contribute their comments to ensure all concerns are addressed.
• Without groups like MNTU weighing in, the final rules could prioritize industry interests over science-based decision making and clean water, leaving coldwater ecosystems vulnerable.

Comment on the Animal Feedlot Rules

Minnesota Trout Unlimited will be developing comments over the coming month and will make them available to members who would like to provide comments. We encourage you to attend a public information session in your area! The comment period for this rulemaking is open until Tuesday July 22, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. Comments must be submitted in writing to the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) via the rulemaking e-Comments website at https://minnesotaoah.granicusideas.com/discussions

Alternatively, comments may be submitted via U.S. mail to:

OAH attn: William Moore, OAH

600 N Robert St. PO Box 64620

St. Paul, MN 55164-0620

Animal Feedlots Rulemaking Information Sessions

The MPCA will be hosting a virtual webinar on May 19th and several in-person information sessions throughout the state in June to provide the context necessary to make informed comments on the proposed rulemaking.

Virtual webinar

Date and time: Monday, May 19, 2025, 1 p.m. | Central Time (US & Canada)

Join link: https://minnesota.webex.com/minnesota/j.php?MTID=mcc931433104ddbf4b6574374eb34401d

Webinar number: 2487 071 5823

Webinar password: z6cP33Fb3qb (96273332 when dialing from a phone or video system)

Join by phone: +1-415-655-0003 United States Toll

Access code: 248 707 15823

This webinar will be recorded, and the recording will be uploaded to the rule-specific webpage for people who are not able to attend.

In-person public information sessions will be held throughout the state in June. Written comments can be submitted at these meetings

June 3 — Hinckley (9:30- 11:30 a.m.) — Little Falls (1:30-3:30 p.m.)

June 4 — Morris (9-11 a.m.) — Detroit Lakes (2-4 p.m.)

June 5 — Thief River Falls (9:30- 11:30 a.m.) — Bemidji (2-4 p.m.)

June 17 — Paynesville (2-4 p.m.)

June 18 — Marshall (9:30- 11:30 a.m.) — Worthington (2-4 p.m.)

June 24 — New Ulm (9:30- 11:30 a.m.) — Albert Lea (2:30-4:30 p.m.)

June 26 — Chatfield (9:30- 11:30 a.m.) — Zumbrota (2:30-4:30 p.m.)

The address for each public information session can be found by visiting the MPCA’s events and meetings webpage.

https://www.pca.state.mn.us/events-and-meetings?combine=feedlots#events