File:Vegative Treatment Area (VTA) Field (8167947226).jpg

On July 10, 2012, more tha 100 people attended the summer tour of the SDSU SE Research Farm near Beresford, SD. This farm conducts research on various crop and livestock topics relevant to SD producers. Until recently, the farm had open lot pens and an open front shed with attached lot area to house beef cattle and also had has a hoop barn and confinement building for swine research. No management system was in place to collect, store, or manage the solid or liquid waste materials that would leave the open beef pens during rain events. The farm recently cooperated with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to make changes to their facilities and develop a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) to better manage the feedlot runoff and manure products generated by their feeding operation, the farm decided to install a sediment basin system and a vegetated treatment area to manage the runoff from the feedlot pens.

Justin Bonnema, Agricultural Engineer on the NRCS SD ANMT designed the system which consists of a sediment basins to collect all runoff from the open lots that occurs, with the basins having a holding capacity sufficient to contain a 25-year, 24-hour storm (4.8”). The runoff collected can then be pumped to a series of solid-set sprinklers that cover a vegetated treatment area of approximately 13 acres. The sprinklers are big-gun type sprinklers that distribute approximate 50 gallons per minute of water per sprinkler over a circular area with a radius of 150’-160’ per sprinkler head. The total runoff volume from the 25-year, 24-hour storm can be distributed within 3 days if the guns are operated continuously. The farm chose the solid-set sprinklers based on that type of system being a fairly unique way of distributing the water which would enable them to conduct vegetation and irrigation research if they desire. This is the first such VTS designed in SD and will hopefully help promote this option for smaller feedlot owners that do not want a holding pond as part of their system.

The ANMT also worked with the farm to complete a nutrient management plan that will enable them to efficiently manage the manure and waste products from their system based on the fertilizer needs of their cropland. The vegetated treatment area which is a mixture of perennial grasses and alfalfa, can be harvested as a feed source for the cattle. The farm plans to install Phase II of their system during the summer of 2012. This phase will include installation of a compost mortality shed and additional stacking area for the waste generated in the hoop building. The farm also plans to integrate a surface sprinkler system into their research and demonstrations when funds allow for the purchase of that equipment.

Submitted by: John Lentz, Resource Conservationist Natural Resources Conservation Service Ag Nutrient Management Team (ANMT) 1820 North Kimball Street Mitchell, SD 57301-1114 (605) 996-1564 Ext. 5