(photo: Minnesota PCA)
Livestock producers in the state are breathing a sigh of relief after the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency recently rescinded a proposed 48- to 56-percent increase in feedlot permit fees.
Senate Ag Committee Chair, DFL’er Aric Putnam of St. Cloud says state regulators made the right move…
“P-C-A was working really hard to come up with a couple different scenarios. So,what if we only increase it by 20 percent, what if we wait six months, what if we wait a year. All those different kind of things. They were doing tons of math on it. So, I’m guessing that’s kind of their process to kind of figure that out. The process was off and P-C-A understood that and responded responsibility by saying, look we shouldn’t just surprise people with this stuff. Let’s think about it and talk with them first. And so that’s what they’re doing. So, I’m pleased with the response.”
Putnam says the decision to rescind the feedlot permit fee increases suggests the M-P-C-A wants to do the right thing. He says farmers are generally pleased that the feedlot permit fees aren’t going up right away.
(content: courtesy MNN)
