Environmental Updates For Beef Feedlots & Dairies
US - Iowa State University Extension and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will offer three workshops in northwest and western Iowa featuring environmental issues for feedlots and dairies that are medium-sized concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).
9 March 2011
2 minute read
The workshops will be March 29 at the Spencer Community School Administration Building, March 30 at the Corporate Center in Sioux Center and March 31 at the American Legion Hall in Arcadia. All workshops will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Additional workshops will be held at other Iowa locations in June.
“Medium CAFOs are defined by a combination of size and pollutant discharge conditions,” said ISU Extension program specialist Angie Rieck-Hinz. “If you meet the size threshold, you are defined as a CAFO if you discharge pollutants to waters of the US by direct contact of the animals with the waters or by discharging through a man-made ditch, flushing system or similar man-made device.”
Shawn Shouse, ISU Extension agricultural engineering programme specialist, added: “This includes any feedlot or cow yard run-off, no matter how dilute or how far it travels.”
Each workshop will cover the following topics: definition of a medium-sized CAFO; National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements; design criteria for manure and effluent handling and storage; operation, maintenance and nutrient management plans; and resources for technical and financial assistance.
Consultants and companies from Iowa and surrounding states are sponsors for the workshops and will be available to discuss engineering services, manure plans and technical assistance.
Registration for the workshop is $30 for the first person from the operation and $15 for each additional person, which includes materials and lunch. Register by March 23 by calling the ISU Extension county office associated with the site to be attended: Call 712-262-2264 for the March 29 workshop at Spencer, 712-737-4230 for the March 30 workshop at Sioux Center or 712-792-2364 for the March 30 workshop at Arcadia. Payment may be made at the door, but pre-registration is required.
