It’s in the Water; It’s in the Air; It’s Everywhere- James P. Murphy The Kansas livestock industry has adapted to increased environmental concerns over the last 30 years. Kansas has been a leader in state environmental regulations. Feedlots encountered state regulations in 1968. Current regulations start at 300 animal units. Beef cattle less than 700 pounds are .5 animal unit; beef cattle greater than 700 pounds are one animal unit. Therefore, beef cattle operations from 300 to 600 head of cattle, are subject to Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) regulations and must obtain a KDHE permit if they have a pollution potential. Operations with less than 300 animal units can be required to get a permit if they create a pollution problem. Operations from 300 to 999 animal units come under KDHE state regulations. Operations greater than 1,000 animal units will be permitted under the Environmental Protection Agency/National Pollution Discharge Elimination System which is also administered by KDHE. Separation distance from habitable structures on new feedlots with a maximum design capacity of 300-999 animal units is 1,320 feet. On feedlots greater than 1,000 animal units, the separation distance is lengthened to 4,000 feet. The annual permit fee for the 300-000 animal unit capacity is $25; 1,000 to 4,999 animal unit capacity is $100; 5,000 to 9,999 animal unit capacity is $200; and over 10,000 animal unit capacity is $400. Six district KDHE offices administer the permit system throughout the state. The environmental issues concerning livestock production continue to evolve due to increased interest in all environmental matters. The feeding of animals in confinement has created environmental issues in many different areas. The following list represents issues that are of current concern to livestock producers. Water Issues Water quality, water supply, water rights, sprinkling of lots, boiler waste, overflow waterers, road surface runoff. Manure Issues Insects, pathogen transfer, road transfer (animal and manure), Air Quality Issues Odors, lot dust, road dust, feedmill dust, fuel combustion exhaust (CO2, CO, NOX), Waste Disposal Issues Solid waste disposal (vet supplies-needles, office , feedmill, chemical
containers, shop and other junk) Other Issues Noise The seepage issue from livestock lagoons has received at a lot of legislative interest this past two years. Kansas State University has been researching the amount of seepage from existing lagoons for the last year. The application of manure liquid and solids to land has also attracted interest. Nitrogen based recommendations have been used in the past. Presently soil tests for nitrogen, phosphorus, salt, and heavy metals are being considered as a requirement before manure can be applied to land. The closure of feedlots and return of the land to an environmentally acceptable use are issues to be considered in upcoming reviews of regulations. The cost and accountability of feedlot and lagoon closure are issues to be considered in the future. Odors resulting from livestock production facilities and the resulting land application of nutrients are coming under increased neighbor pressures. Less tolerance of neighbors to odors and dusts from large agricultural operations is a future trend. Larger operations may be held to a different set of standards than smaller operations. Health concerns of neighbors and feedlot workers resulting from odors and dusts need to be researched. The task of measuring and evaluating odors is very difficult due to the low concentrations and atmospheric effects. Management of the feedlot surface to reduce odor and dust should be a concern of all feedlot operators. Attention to the odor and dust in the field application of manure solids and liquid also needs to be considered. The concern of all gas emissions to the atmosphere resulting from beef feeding operations will be discussed in the future. The Kansas livestock industry will have to address each of the above issues to remain an environmentally responsible, meat production activity.
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