Jason Gross
Engineering Technician
University of Nebraska Extension
Is a Small AFO Big Business and What About VTS?
• Develop and demonstrate new alternative practices for un-regulated livestock producers though a small cost share program
• Design and build projects on small and medium livestock operations under real world conditions.
• Educate Producers and Consultants about using VTS
LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS ENVIRONMENTAL
ASSISTANCE PROJECT Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund
NDEQ (EPA) 319 Non-Point Pollution Program Grant
US Cattle Statistics (National Agricultural Statistics Service 2012)
• 2.2 million farms
• 1.17 million farms with gross revenues at $1 -
$10,000 (or 1.77 million are less than $100,000
• 145,200 farms with gross revenues at greater than
$500,000
• 729,000 total cattle operations (cows and calves)
• National average gross revenue is $134,800
Nebraska Cattle Statistics (NASS and Nebraska Beef Council 2012)
• 46,800 farms which 20,000 of them raise cows or
calves.
• 10,200 of the have gross revenues of $1 - $10,000
(or 22,400 are less than $100,000)
• 9,800 farms have gross revenues of over $500,000
• Nebraska average farm income is $508,000
(gross)
Nebraska Cattle Statistics (NASS and Nebraska Beef Council 2012)
• 6.3 million cows and calves
• 2.5 million or so on feed
• 1.9 million cows
• 1.8 million calves in stocker, grower, or back-grounding
operations
• 760 large CAFO’s (cattle, dairy, and swine)
• Roughly 3,800 small or medium feedlots while most of the
15,000 cow operations have some kind of feeding areas.
• Direct beef sales of $8.6 billion and indirect economic
impact to the state of $12 – 20 billion.
So -
• If a 500 head back-grounding feeding
operation feeds one group of calves (+ $1,000
each) then that operation is one of the top
0.45% of the farm income earners in the
United States.
• So, yes a small or medium AFO is “Big
Business”
So how does a VTS fit in these AFO’s?
Sprinkler Vegetative Treatment Systems (VTS) Advantages
• They are flexible systems that can be economically designed to
match desired application rates and soil infiltration rates
• Feeding area is down gradient of the possible VTA location
• Soil intake rate is too high for a flood application system (sandy
/ loess soils) or too low (very tight clay soils)
• Topography challenges (rolling hills or short slopes)
• Sensitive water table, low AWC of the soil, and many other
reasons
• Uniform application may be a critical design constraint
• Limited space available.
• Usually simpler to design and construct.
Case Study of the Lancaster Co Small AFO
• Farm and cow calf operation
• Southeast NE near Lincoln (close to urban area)
• 150 head of cows plus heifers and bulls
• 1.9 ac feeding area with barns
• Has capacity of 240 head of calves
• Connection to small tributary
Engineering • Feeding Area 1.9 acres
• 25-year, 24-hour storm = 5.4 inches (runoff = 4.3 in)
• Silty Clay Loam soil with an infiltration rate of 0.2 in/hr and AWHC
of 5.7 in in the top 4 feet
• Dual basin design with capacity of 35,100 cu ft
• Pump powered by a 10 hp diesel engine with a GR 80 series self
priming pump with capacity of 80 gpm @ 140’ TDH
• 30 pod K-Line system in 2 sets of 24 hours each
• Sprinkler application rate is 0.12 in/hr @ 40 psi for a total application
of 2.88 inches
• VTA is 4.0 acres (VTA to feedlot ratio of 2:1)
• NRCS Practice Standards- 632,635,512,634,533,430,442, and 342
Before:
Searching for ground water
After:
Construction Costs
• This project was turn key at $22,991 (or $12,100
per feedlot acre or $95.80 per calf capacity.
• Since 2008 sprinkler VTS range from $6,500 per
feedlot acre to $12,100.
• Pump station is usually near 50% of the systems
cost.
• Multiple basins adds to the cost.
• Can have considerable difference in construction
cost between diesel, gas, and electric power
drives.
Things to Ponder • Sprinkler VTS and NMP must match producer
management style.
• Sprinkler VTS and NMP must match climate (don’t need a
million dollar system in drier climates) Logan county VTS
hasn’t been used in 3 years.
• On Small AFO’s little things can make large impacts on
construction costs.
• Systems must be user friendly in all rain and runoff events
(especially the little ones) Don’t get hung up on the big
events.
• Systems need a low failure rate.
Coming Soon 2014 Questions? Jason Gross (308) 865-1594 [email protected]
• VTS Operators Manual
• Grass Rooting Monitor
• VTS design online videos
• Design guides – online
• Engineering help on http://water.unl.edu/web/manure/small-afos
• Feeding Without the Feedlot
(demonstrate the mechanics of
grazing on forages)
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