County approves feedlot manager position

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Eventual county control of a feedlot program and hiring a feedlot officer took a step closer to reality on Tuesday when the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners approved the planning process. County feedlots currently are under state control.

However, certain conditions must be met before the county board’s final approval of a county-run program.

Agricultural advisory board member Cynthia Johnson reiterated Tuesday that it’s better to have a local feedlot officer who people can contact in Otter Tail County rather than for an area farmer contacting someone from the state Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

“The time has come for us to proceed with the feedlot planning process,” Commissioner Robert Block said. His motion passed 4-0 with Commissioner Dennis Mosher abstaining from the vote.

Even though the process is underway which could eventually include the hiring of a county feedlot officer, county commissioners — before making a final decision — will take a close look at budget issues and other factors.

The county hopes to obtain state and/or federal grants. Commissioners also need to decide which county department the feedlot officer would be part of and take a final look at rules and regulations.

“This new hire would conduct feedlot inspections and provide assistance to feedlot owners, something positive for Otter Tail County,” Johnson said. “Fifty-four of Minnesota’s 87 counties have feedlot officers. Here in Otter Tail County we have 513 registered feedlots.”

The MPCA feedlot management team would make a final determination on the number of funding-eligible feedlots in Otter Tail County. A county program would include all aspects of the state feedlot program.

“You have to look at the positive benefits,” Johnson said, “including feedlot standards for effective management. Education and training opportunities also would be part of a county-operated program.”

She and fellow members of the ag advisory board emphasize that the best approach to assist smaller producers with pollution issues is through the practice of many visits and persistence — from a local contact person employed by Otter Tail County and not by a state employee.

“The MPCA can’t do this,” Johnson said.

Another ag advisory board member, Ken Herbranson, said, “it’s all about doing the right thing and being good neighbors. We (feedlot owners) need to run our operations in the proper manner.”

Herbranson, a Clitherall area dairy farmer, also has served as chairperson of the Minnesota Division of the Midwest Dairy Association.

“If the county board approves this feedlot program and county feedlot officer, it would be positive for agriculture and positive for development,” said Johnson. “Education comes into play when there’s a feedlot compliance issue. Officers also keep feedlot owners up-to-date on animal production issues that relate to being good neighbors.”

County board member Everett Erickson is on record stating that it’s time that Otter Tail County assume overview of feedlots rather than the current policy of oversight from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

Johnson said that establishing a feedlot officer would go a long way in proper land use planning.

The MPCA believes that county personnel are more knowledgeable with local conditions and considerations, in turn allowing a county feedlot officer to better assist producers in all aspects of regulatory compliance.

Johnson’s and Herbranson’s fellow ag advisory board members include Lee Rogness, Peter Fjestad, Chuck Erickson, Bruce Brenden, John Walkup, Leon Keller, Rick Drevlow, Gary Goff and Vince Crary.