Kittson County feedlot program thriving

By Anna Jauhola
When thinking of feedlots, a long line of cows at troughs comes to mind. However, the definition of a feedlot in Minnesota statute can vary and Kittson County’s registered feedlots look much different than those in the rest of the state.
Since the 1990s, producers in the county have had to register their land as feedlots if a livestock operation has any area that doesn’t regrow vegetation due to the area hosting manure, hay and groupings of animals. Most registered feedlots in Kittson County are comprised of pasture areas, with just a small section devoid of vegetation.
“A lot of our feedlots are so close to being just straight pasture, but the winters here make it so they have a centralized area where they feed, water and calve,” said Sky Dahl, county feedlot officer through Kittson Soil and Water.
Most feedlots in the county host between 150 and 250 cattle, with a few in the 600-700 range. Those are handled by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency directly due to the size. But the rest, Dahl handles herself with assistance from her regional MPCA representative.
Over the last year and a half, Dahl has worked with producers to get the program running more smoothly. Having grown up on a cattle farm near Lancaster, Dahl knows many producers in the area and is working to know all of them in the county.
As the feedlot officer, Dahl helps producers register feedlots, do manure testing and keep up on paperwork. She has helped allay fears about the program, which has led producers to be more amiable to signing up. Noah Weleski raises cattle with his dad, Jim, in Poppleton Township east of Lancaster. He said they registered as a feedlot two years ago to gain access to FSA funding.
“I was nervous at first,” Weleski said. “I wasn’t sure what it would entail. But when Sky came out for the inspection with her boss, Taylor, they were informative and easy to talk to. People shouldn’t be worried about dealing with them. It was like a casual conversation with your neighbor.”
The Weleskis have a cow-calf operation and he said the best part of the feedlot program is how Dahl made the sign-up process simple. He said the manure testing portion is advantageous as well, so they know how much manure to spread on the corn and oats they raise to feed their cattle.
The biggest obligation producers have is to ensure they follow MPCA discharge rules with manure and runoff. Weleski said Dahl made this process easy for them as well, helping with paperwork and ensuring everything is filed correctly.
“Once you hit over 100 animal units, then you look at manure testing you have to have done every four years. This looks at nutrient levels in the manure,” Dahl said. “And that’s really it. It’s very basic. And we have the manure test kits here and we pay for them for the producers. That’s funding we get from MPCA.”
Zach Gatheridge, along with his in-laws Owen, Lyndon and Judah Westerberg, currently have 210 cattle, all cow-calf pairs, in Hazelton Township north of Lake Bronson. When he needed to register their operation as a feedlot, his biggest fear about the program was whether the state would take control and dictate how they operate.
“But that’s not the case,” Gatheridge said. “They’re keeping an eye on overall animal health, what your plan is for disposal of manure and how close you are to waterways.”
Gatheridge added that Dahl’s assistance with paperwork and the whole process put them all at ease. He said she explained everything really well and “took all the fear out of it.”
Kittson Soil and Water operates the minimally funded program with $7,500 each year from the state, and the county is required to match that amount. Through her work, Dahl has increased the performance points received, which gives them extra funding for the program.
The majority of the funding goes to fund her position, including training and travel, but also the time she puts in doing paperwork and visiting with producers. However, the program funding also pays for the manure test kits and producer events, like the cattlemen’s supper in January.
As for manure testing, most producers who raise cattle also have row crops. Checking the manure on site for nitrogen and potassium levels helps producers know how much to apply in relation to their crop rotation.
“They apply manure to their own fields. Most of them, when you have this small number of cattle, are not going to have enough manure to overapply,” Dahl said.
The testing can also assist with detecting any animal-borne diseases.
In Kittson County, there are 24 current and previously registered feedlots. Dahl said they sent out renewal notices to those whose registrations have lapsed this year and they have until the end of 2025 to send in that registration. Producers can do their own registration online, or Dahl can do it for them. With so few feedlot operations, Dahl said she is only required to inspect 1.4 lots each year. Currently, she has randomly chosen lots to inspect from ones that haven’t been inspected in the last 10 years. She will eventually be on a regular inspection cycle.
Over the years, people have been wary of the program. Dahl heard from several producers they thought the MPCA was going to show up and do the inspection themselves.
“No one is going to show up wearing suits and inspect a farm,” Dahl said. “It’s just me. I don’t come and check and make sure you’re registered. I help with registration. I can do it for you.”
While Dahl is still new, she works closely with her MPCA representative, who she said knows small feedlot operations well and understands Kittson County producers. For those who don’t respond to Dahl’s initial letter about registration, she will send a second letter and follow up with a phone call. However, if they choose not to register, “that’s between them and the state.”
Producers who have questions or need assistance regarding the feedlot program can contact Dahl at the Kittson SWCD office at 218-853-2619.