The Project

Partners include: the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa State University and ISU Extension, Iowa’s Farm Bureau Federation and Cattleman’s Association, and the Iowa Manure Management Action Group (http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/immag).

Thousands of open beef and dairy feedlot operations in Iowa may need permits under proposed EPA rules. Iowa’s cooperative initiative to develop and implement a feedlot environmental management compliance assessment aims to meet the needs of both producers and regulatory agencies. The project also pilots a training process, as Iowa has few third parties qualified to assist producers with completing permit applications and adopting effective methods for protecting air and water quality.

Updates

Final Summary - December 2005:

View the Final Report Summary.

Spring 2005

Read a comparative analysis of CNMP and EMS pilot projects in Western Iowa.

March 2004:

View the Summary Interim Project Report.

Summer 2003

The Iowa Pilot Project team held four, two-part workshops to lead producers through the first four chapters of the Guidebook in March and April. The workshops assisted producers in developing functional EMSs for their feedlots. In total, 42 open feedlot beef producers are participating and have written environmental policy statements, done feedlot assessments, and developed action plans to address the priorities they identified. Project coordinator Jim Venner is making site visits to each participants operation to review their objectives and action plans, and is directing them toward technical resources as needed. Work on structures and other feedlot improvements is underway at several participating feedlots and Venner is encouraging producers to document changes.

Plans for this fall include an additional meeting of participants to discuss progress on their EMS and the level of documentation that they believe is adequate. We will couple this classroom time with a field day to participating feedlots to see changes that have been made.

January 2003:

A draft of the refined assessment tool was used at 12 field days with beef and dairy cattle producers in August. The field days focused management as well as design of open feedlots and manure management structures. Contacts have been made to schedule a multi-agency (NRCS, DNR, and Extension) training in feedlot assessment and environmental management.

We are developing an EMS for the Iowa State University Beef Nutrition Farm. The assessment has been completed using the Guidebook and the farm superintendent is developing a policy statement. The team continues to meet to discuss the long-term strategy and near term objectives for this research farm. We are in the process of hiring an EMS field assistant to work with cooperating farms. We are planning two stakeholder meetings for late winter: one focused on dairy in Northeast Iowa and a second focused on beef in Central Iowa.

November 2002

The Iowa Beef Center continues to work with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to develop a single assessment tool. This assessment will be software with an emphasis on regulatory criteria. Currently, IDNR is progressing slowly due to other priorities and clarification of regulatory standards for open feedlots. The Iowa Beef Center proceeded by preparing a simple assessment tool for non-permitted feedlots (under 1000 head) that was beta-tested by multiple teams of extension staff on a single feedlot in May. Based on the initial experience this assessment tool will be refined before the next field test.

Additional feedlots have been identified to test the assessment. The concept of greater documentation of environmental management is gaining popularity among livestock and crop producers, but the term "EMS" is seen as burdensome and regulatory. However, new legislation in Iowa will require annual filing of nutrient management plans for confinement operators and air quality standards are being developed.

Iowa is also developing a comprehensive nutrient management strategy with greater accountability for agriculture, municipalities, and industry. EQIP funding for livestock producers will require participants to develop nutrient management plans not currently required. There is growing discussion about CNMPs for livestock producers. This increase in regulation, guidelines, and public scrutiny is generating interest in a systematic approach to environmental planning and management. Our participation in this project is keeping us well-informed and our work on assessment and EMS has us positioned to provide assistance to various stakeholders as questions arise. A draft of the refined assessment tool was used at 12 field days with beef and dairy cattle producers in August. The field days focused management as well as design of open feedlots and manure management structures. Contacts have been made to schedule a multi-agency (NRCS, DNR, and Extension) training in feedlot assessment and environmental management.

September 2002

The Iowa Beef Center continues to work with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to develop a single assessment tool. This assessment will be software with an emphasis on regulatory criteria. Currently, IDNR is progressing slowly due to other priorities and clarification of regulatory standards for open feedlots. The Iowa Beef Center proceeded by preparing a simple assessment tool for non-permitted feedlots (under 1000 head) that was beta-tested by multiple teams of extension staff on a single feedlot in May. Based on the initial experience this assessment tool will be refined before the next field test. Additional feedlots have been identified to test the assessment.

The concept of greater documentation of environmental management is gaining popularity among livestock and crop producers, but the term "EMS" is seen as burdensome and regulatory. However, new legislation in Iowa will require annual filing of nutrient management plans for confinement operators and air quality standards are being developed. Iowa is also developing a comprehensive nutrient management strategy with greater accountability for agriculture, municipalities, and industry. EQIP funding for livestock producers will require participants to develop nutrient management plans not currently required. There is growing discussion about CNMPs for livestock producers.

This increase in regulation, guidelines, and public scrutiny is generating interest in a systematic approach to environmental planning and management. Our participation in this project is keeping us well informed and our work on assessment and EMS has us positioned to provide assistance to various stakeholders as questions arise. A draft of the refined assessment tool was used at 12 field days with beef and dairy cattle producers in August. The field days focused management as well as design of open feedlots and manure management structures. Contacts have been made to schedule a multi-agency (NRCS, DNR, and Extension) training in feedlot assessment and environmental management.

The Iowa project plans to concentrate on open lots (and especially runoff), and does not intend at this time to expand to a full EMS pilot. The pilot will utilize a 10 page assessment that will be conducted by extension working with about 10 operators recruited through Iowa Cattlemen. The plan is to integrate with an assessment tool that Iowa Department of Natural Resources is developing. Projected date to be on farms: May or June 2002.

© 2006 by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.