Part of Whistleblower's objective is to report on actions government agencies and licensing board take against the companies and individuals they regulate. Our intent is to provide, as a matter of record, a glimpse into the decisions these agencies and boards make. The majority of the decisions we post are ones to which the party being disciplined has agreed.

A Todd County cattle farmer who allowed manure-tainted sediment and runoff to pollute nearby streams and rivers was fined $45,000 by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency this month. Joe Varner was notified of several violations after inspections in 2008 and 2009 of his farm near Clarissa, but he failed to correct the problems, according to the agency. Varner also had more cattle than the county allows and failed to get a required pollution permit for his feedlot, the agency said. Up to $15,000 of Varner's fine may be forgiven if he proves he spent that amount to correct the pollution hazards. Varner also was ordered to provide evidence that all of his cattle operations in Minnesota are registered and permitted. Read the decision here.