Tour explores beef feedlots in watershed
The Lyon County Soil and Water District (SWCD) and ISU Extension held a public tour on July 8, 2008 of beef feedlots that are participating in a clean water study. The study is concerned with sediment runoff from cattle feedlots in the vicinity of Mud Creek, Dry Creek, No-Name Creek, and their tributaries in the western portion of Lyon County. The sites will feature new methods, such as solid settling systems and vegetative filter strips, to control feedlot runoff.
The tour stopped at four of the six feedlot sites that elected to participate in this voluntary study. The four sites were: Wade Warner's, HB Farms Inc., Meyer Stock Farms, and Pig Hill Company. All sites are in the Larchwood, Iowa vicinity. At each site an explanation was given as why the site was chosen for the study. The owner/operator of each site then gave their reasons for participating in the study and their plans for future cattle feeding operations. A "question and answer" session was held at each site.
Numerous local cattle feeders attended the tour as well as NRCS and DNR personnel. Beth Doran of ISU Extension (Beef Field Specialist) and Nate Young of the Iowa DNR provided handouts and answered questions concerning solid settling regulations, manure storage, and the new "combined species" rule that was passed by the Iowa Legislature in 2008.
The Lyon County Cattlemen's Association provided a grilled hamburger meal during the tour at the Larchwood City Park.
For more information on the tour or study, contact Steve Anderson at (712) 472-3774 or Steven.J.Anderson@ia.usda.gov.
Steve Anderson, project coordinator, can help landowners
Steve Anderson, project coordinator, can help landowners install conservation practices to help preserve the creeks for future generations.
More about Anderson
For More Information
Local:
Steve Anderson
Project Coordinator
(712) 472-3774
Steven.j.Anderson@ia.usda.gov
Lyon County NRCS Office
Statewide:
Steve Hopkins
DNR Watershed Improvement Program Grants Coordinator
(515) 281-6402
Stephen.Hopkins@dnr.iowa.gov
