Mono-Slope Beef Barn Open House August 30 Features Air Quality and Cattle Performance

BROOKINGS, S.D. - A mono-slope beef barn open house at the Goodwin Heritage Cattle Inc. farm near Goodwin, SD, will highlight a cattle performance, air quality and beef manure management August 30. This open house is part of an ongoing tri-state project with South Dakota State University, Iowa State University Extension and the USDA Meat Animal Research Center at Clay Center, Neb. The open house will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The open house is geared toward producers, agri-business staff and policy makers. To provide topic-specific information, the open house will consist of stations providing 15-minute informal presentations focusing on different aspects of mono-slope barns. Stations will operate from 10 a.m. to noon and again from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Station topics include:

• How we manage the barn
• Cattle performance
• Cost-sharing opportunities
• Managing the pack for animal comfort and reduced emissions
• Value and nutrient management of mono-slope manure
• The air quality project and air quality regulations
• Analyzing the gases and particulate matter (dust)

Lunch will be provided from noon to 1 p.m. The open house and lunch is sponsored by Watertown Ag Chamber of Commerce, Glacial Lakes Ethanol, South Dakota Farm Bureau, Coteau Hills Cattlemen, Ag United for South Dakota, Banner Associates and Landmark Builders.

The tri-state project is funded by the US Department of Agriculture Air Quality Program. It involves monitoring air emissions over a two-year period to determine baseline data for gases and dust produced in mono-slope beef facilities. The study is also evaluating two manure-handling systems to determine which emits lower levels of gases. This is the second of two Open Houses; the first open house was held near Royal, Iowa in June.

There is no charge to attend, but preregistration is encouraged by August 26 to have an accurate count for lunch and materials. To preregister, contact Candy Willms at 605-688-5141 or Candy.willms@sdstate.edu. You can view and download a flyer describing the event, its location and preregistration information at iGrow.org.

To learn more contact, Steve Pohl, Structures Specialist, South Dakota State University, 605-688-5662, Stephen.pohl@sdstate.edu or Erin Cortus, Air Quality and Waste Management Specialist, South Dakota State University, 605-688-5144, erin.cortus@sdstate.edu.