What I Am Learning and Implementing Based on

Data Collected on My FarmDoyle Johannes

ND Discovery Farms Core Farm OperatorUnderwood, ND

History of Involvement

•Started investigating feedlot runoff issues in 2005

•Looked to the future of sustaining the farming operation for the next generation

Why I Got Involved in DF’s

Doyle Johannes, Underwood400-600 custom fed & backgroundingEdge of feedlot monitoring

What I am Learning

Table 1. Total Nitrogen Load and Runoff Flow at the Edge of a Feedlot (G1) and 1/2 (G3) mile down-landscape from the feedlot during the snowmelt period of 2009, 2010 and 2011.

G1 G3  

Total Nitrogen Load (lbs) 11793 5441  

Total Flow (cu ft/sec) 14 70  

Nutrient Loading from Feedlot

What I am Learning

•Biggest loss of nutrients from feedlot area is during snowmelt.

•Over a three year period, summer rainfall events rarely triggered collection at station 3.

My Response

•Need to decrease risk of snowmelt runoff leaving feedlot area

•Installed clean water diversion around feedlot

Diversion

New Feed Bunks

Diversion

Updated Bunk

Unexpected Learning Opportunities

•Several visits from EPA officials

Questions?

Other Discovery Farm sites in ND

•Tile drainage monitoring near Embden, ND

•Edge of field/Out-wintered cattle runoff monitoring near Dazey, ND

Kent & Keith Bartholomay, Embden300 cows & backgroundingTile and surface drainage monitoring

Tile OutletTile Outlet

Surface Drainage

Kim and Denise Amann, Dazey200 cows & backgroundingEdge of Feedlot monitoring

Baldhill Creek

Next Steps

•Need to characterize runoff behavior•Soil sample down-landscape area below

feedlot and tile drain•Funded partially by ND Corn Council

Questions?Doyle Johannes701.442.3526

doylej@westriv.com

Ron WiederholtCarrington Research Extension Center

701.652.2951ron.wiederholt@ndsu.edu