Feedlot & Ag

Division Overview                                          

The County Environmental Planners share the duties of the following titles along with assisting other positions in the Planning and Zoning Office.

County Feedlot Officer (CFO)

The duties of the CFO are to enforce and administer the County feedlot ordinance and to assist the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) with the enforcement of State and Federal rules that relate to livestock.  The CFO processes  feedlot permit requests, inspects feedlot sites and follows up on complaints.

County AG Inspector (CAI)

• The duties of the CAI are to inspect places that sell seed within Rice County, to assist local weed inspectors in enforcement of the State Noxious weed law and to assist the Minnesota Dept. of Ag as directed.
• Yearly the CAI in Rice County inspects retail seed sales locations collecting seed samples, inspects townships for noxious weed law compliance, and works to get biological control agents established in Rice County to control weeds.

For questions or concerns relating to Feedlots, please contact:  Wade Schulz, Rice County Agricultural & Land Use Planner, at (507) 332-5954 or by email

Feedlot Documents & Files

Feedlot Ordinance

• Feedlot CUP Packet                                                        Feedlot Permit Application
• Feedlot Variance Packet                                                  Manure Management Plan Checklist
• Affidavit Regarding Farm Disposal of Solid Waste

Reports

The legislature provides funds to counties to implement state feedlot regulations and that the amount is primarily based on the number of registered feedlots in the county.  The following posted reports show the amount and kind of work that was done, as well as the cost to perform the work.  The County Feedlot Officer (CFO) should be contacted if there is interest in additional details.

Natural Resources Block Grant Reports

• Feedlot Report 2011
• 2012 NRBG Report   2011 NRBG Report    2010 NRBG Report    2009 NRBG Report

External Links                                                       Press Releases

• Rice County Soil and Water
• MN NRCS
• MN DNR
• University of MN Manure and Odor Info
• MN Board of Animal Health
  •                                                                                 New Rule (animal traceability) - 4/8/13
  •     May 5-10, 2013                                                      International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW)
  • Tour of the Full-Circle Organics Composting facility May 8th, 2013. Click here for details.
  • Midwest Compost Training Course – June 3 – 6, 2013 at the Minnesota Arboretum. This course is designed allow composters to meet the training requirement in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois.  Click here for details.
• MN Pollution Control Agency- Feedlots
• MN Department of Agriculture --NEW EXTENDED application DEADLINE!!
  • The USDA - Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants were just announced a couple of days ago and they have a FAST DEADLINE of May 31st, 2013. These grants will pay 25% of a renewable energy project's cost for a rural small business or farm.
    
    We have tried to pack a lot of clear and specific information about the grant and tips for applying in this link. Please share with folks who may be interested!                                                                          
• MN Extension Farms