Presented at the SDSU Monoslope Beef Barn Open House; August 30, 2011; Goodwin, SD

SDSU is currently leading a multistate project to gather baseline data for gases and dust emitted from monoslope barns, and evaluate how manure handling systems impact the emissions.  The study is investigating differences in emissions between a deep bed pack and weekly scrape manure management method.  At the same time, environmental data spanning all four seasons and multiple years will help us assess the airflow and temperature conditions in the barn.  Four commercial feedlots, two in Eastern South Dakota and two in Northwest Iowa are participating in the study.  Researchers and Extension Personnel from the USDA-ARS Meat Animal Research Center and Iowa State University are working with Dr. Erin Cortus, Dr. Steve Pohl and Dr. Dick Nicolai from SDSU on this three year project, which is currently in Year 2.

There is increasing interest in air emissions from livestock production, in part because of recent discussion and changes to several federal air quality regulations and rules.  However, there is no information on emissions for this type of facility for producers to assess whether they are in compliance with the air quality rules and regulations.  Information currently available is generally limited to open feedlots, in different regions of the country.  This study will help close that gap in information, and ensure producers have more specific and local information to refer to for their monoslope facilities.

Two open houses were hosted at the participating farms this past summer.  Over 300 people took part in the information sessions that covered manure handling, environmental regulations, producer perspectives, and on-going research.  The gas and dust emission data collection will end in the fall of 2012, at which time the measurements and results will be made public.

This project is funded by the USDA AFRI Air Quality Program. For more information, contact Dr. Erin Cortus, Air Quality and Waste Management Specialist by phone, 605-688-5144, or email, erin.cortus@sdstate.edu.