Air March 24, 2004

Thank you Gary, and good morning everyone.

A quick reminder on the No Till Planter Demonstration coming up on March 30th. If you are interested and don't see anything in the mail in the next few days, give me a call!

With the growing concern about nonpoint source pollution from livestock, we've been getting some good research results from on farm studies. One recent study was done this past year looking at winter time round bale feeding sites and ten factors including bacteria, nutrients and organic matter. The study took monthly samples from actual Kansas field feeding conditions starting just before the livestock feeding started and continuing through the feeding period and clear up to 6 months afterwards or about mid summer. Concentric circles were set up around the feeders and sampling was done at 10, 40, 70 and 100 feet from the feeder. As might be suspected, the highest concentrations of everything were in that closest ten feet to the feeder. The concentrations of all measured factors peaked and plateaued very quickly and then once the cattle were removed the values immediately started to drop. In many of the items monitored, by three months after feeding had stopped levels had returned to pre-feeding levels at the 100 foot zone. As you worked back closer to the feeder, levels went up. Okay, that's all well and good, but what's the practical application. Obviously, we want to keep these feeding areas as far away from waterways as possible. The more distance you can put between the feeding sites and even seasonal waterways, the better. Obviously, nitrate, phosphorus and bacteria levels really spiked up 2 and 3 fold close to the feeders. The more distance, and possible vegetation you put between the feeders and the water, the better. Secondly, when possible, once the feeding has ended for the season, scrape the feeding site load it into a spreader and spread it across the field. In other words, treat it like a feedlot setting and redistribute the elevated portions to where they'll be diluted down in a natural setting. There's a lot of valuable nutrients present her, so let's get them out where the plants can use them and keep them out of the water! If you would like to see the complete article from this study, please give me a call and I'll be happy to send you a copy!

This is Chuck Otte, Geary County Extension Agent, with Ag Outlook 2004.

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