Area beef producers and agri-business staff are invited to tour two beef feedlots demonstrating solids settling basins on Tuesday, Aug. 23.  The tour will start at 1:30 p.m. at the Keith Kuhn farm located 6.25 miles west of Anthon and conclude at the Brian Seuntjens farm, which is located northwest of Danbury.

"The minimum that is required of all open beef feedlots is solids settling," says Kris Kohl, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension ag engineer field specialist. According to Kohl, both the Kuhn and Seuntjens feedlots are excellent examples of these kinds of systems. Kohl will discuss how to design a solids settling system to manage run-off from open beef feedlots.

Natural Resources and Conservation Service staff from Woodbury and Monona Counties will address government funding sources, such as the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, for beef manure management systems.  Beth Doran, ISU Extension beef field specialist, will visit about the Livestock Water Quality Loan Program available for feedlots with less than 1,000 head.

Throughout the field day, current manure management regulations for open beef feedlots will be discussed, including nutrient management, water quality and air quality.

The field day is sponsored by ISU Extension, Iowa Beef Center and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. A $5 registration fee will be collected at the field day to cover postage, materials, plastic boots and refreshments.

For more information, contact Beth Doran at (712) 737-4230.

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