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Producers May Visit A Variety Of Manure Management Systems During Field Days

By Jenn Bentley, Beth Doran, Larry Tranel, Kris Kohl

Managing manure nutrients is a high priority for livestock farmers for economic and environmental reasons. Iowa dairy and beef producers are invited to attend Iowa State University Extension and Outreach field days featuring a variety of manure management systems. The field days will be held in northwest and northeast Iowa during October.

“Manure is beginning to be recognized as a valuable asset rather than a waste product in the livestock operation,” said Beth Doran, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef program specialist. “How the manure is handled and stored can affect the financial return to the farming enterprise. The various ways dairy and beef producers handle manure will be the focus of the field days.”

Field day discussions will focus on nutrient management including various options and methods to manage total farm nutrient balance, manure management and nutrient runoff.
Northwest Iowa manure management field days

Oct. 1
10 a.m. start, Multi-Rose Jerseys, Rock Rapids. Multi-Rose has a unique process to recycle solids from the free stall barn as bedding for the cows.  At 11:30 a.m., the field day moves to the Jim Koedam farm, near Doon. Koedam uses a low-cost pumping system to apply feedlot liquids to nearby corn fields. The field day concludes with lunch and a tour of the Terry Van Maanen Dairy operation north of Rock Valley where participants may view a sand settling lane, three manure structures and how runoff from silage piles is prevented.

Oct. 2
1 p.m. start, Chad and Dale Fertig Dairy, south of Wall Lake. This dairy operation has a drive-in sand settling pit and a newer heifer barn with manure storage.

To register for northwest Iowa field days, contact Kris Kohl, ISU Extension and Outreach Ag engineer, at 712-335-3013 or Beth Doran, ISU Extension and Outreach beef program specialist at 712-737-4230, by Sept. 29.  A registration fee of $5 per person will be collected at the Oct. 1 field day to help cover the cost of lunch.  Directions to the farms and a complete listing of field days are included in the program flier available at www.extension.iastate.edu/dairyteam.

Both northwest Iowa field days are sponsored by ISU Extension and Outreach, Western Iowa Dairy Alliance and the North Central Risk Management Education Center. Special thanks is extended to WIDA for sponsoring milk and ice cream at the field days.
Northeast Iowa manure management field days

Oct. 8
10:15 a.m. -Noon, Kregel Farms, Guttenberg. The Kregel’s milk 380 cows with robots and use a three-stage GEA roller press for dried solids bedding. From 1-2:30 p.m., the field day moves to the farm of Jeff West, Farmersburg. West is milking 150 cows with robots; he uses a screw press separator for dried solids bedding.

Oct. 9
10:15 a.m. -Noon, Mike Deutmeyer, Guttenberg. This operation has a two-stage sand system. The field day continues 1-2:30 p.m. at the farm of Dan and Glenn Moormann, New Vienna.  The Moormans are expanding their herd with sand land before manure storage.

Oct. 14
10:15 a.m. - Noon, Doug Roth, Mt. Pleasant. This operation uses a two-stage sand system with traveling irrigation gun. The afternoon session 1-2:30 p.m., moves to the Calvin Yoder farm, Kalona. At this stop participants will see a single-stage push-off system.

Oct. 16
10:15 a.m. - Noon, Schatz Dairy Farm, Cresco. This farm milks 225 cows, using a two-stage sand manure system. Knutson Farms near Ossian will host the 1 - 2:30 p.m. session. The Knutsons milk 280 cows, using a one-stage sand manure system; chimney style with no pumps.

Source:iastate


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