AFO Open Feedlots

Open feedlot producers are required to manage manure, process wastewater, settleable solids and effluent from the feedlot according to the following:

• All open lots, regardless of size, that expand or construct new lots in Iowa must meet minimum separation distances to water wells.  These requirements are listed on the Openlots construction page.
• Remove all settleable solids from the effluent prior to discharge into a water of the state and ensure that the discharge does not cause a water quality violation. Prevent any direct discharges into publicly owned lakes, known sinkholes or agricultural drainage wells.
• Land apply all effluent in a way that will not cause pollution of surface or groundwater, including meeting separation distances from environmentally sensitive areas. Additional requirements apply for concentrated animal feeding operations (large and medium CAFOs), including the possible need for a NPDES permit.
• A nutrient management plan (NMP) is required for any open feedlot with an NPDES permit or capacity of 1,000 animal units (e.g., 1,000 head of cattle or 700 mature dairy cows) or more at any one time. Form 542-0020 can be used to help determine animal units.

• Stockpiling of settleable solids or manure solids scraped from the feedlot must comply with state law.

  Open Feedlot Manure Stockpiling Regulations

• Dispose of all dead animals correctly.
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's website has additional information about federal requirements for concentrated animal feeding operations or CAFOs.

Manure Land Application

Iowa law requires that all manure from an animal feeding operation be properly disposed of so that it does not cause surface or groundwater pollution. Animal feeding operations include open feedlots and confinement feeding operations. All sizes of animal feeding operations must meet this requirement. These rules also apply to manure that is produced outside of Iowa, but land applied in Iowa. Open lot dry manure and liquid effluent may be land applied in the winter months on snow covered or frozen ground, but the application must still not result in a water quality violation. Extra precautions such as plugging drainage tile intakes or increasing buffer distances to water, should be taken to ensure any runoff that occurs during snowmelt events or spring thaw conditions does not cause a water quality violation. The Manure Application Webpage contains the requirements for land application of manure.

Separation Distances

There are separation distances that must be maintained between areas of manure land application and protected buildings or other locations such as sinkholes, wells and ag drainage wells. Producers and manure applicators should check the manure application page and the factsheet Separation Distances for Land Application of Manure to determine which separation distances apply to their operation.

Who Needs an NMP?

Open feedlots with 1,000 or more animal units (1,000 beef cattle or 700 mature dairy cattle or 2,500 finishing hogs) must have a nutrient management plan (NMP). Other livestock and poultry producers who must have a NPDES permit must also develop, implement and submit an NMP to the DNR. Producers may not land apply manure, process wastewater or effluent, without an NMP approved by the DNR. Producers who are planning to construct a new facility, or expand or modify an existing facility with 1,000 animal units or more should submit their NMP with the construction permit application.

NMPs - Information for the public

A nutrient management plan (NMP) is a tool that producers use to manage their feedlot's manure and process wastewater, matching up the nutrient value of the manure with the fertilization needs of crops. Properly developed and used, a nutrient management plan prevents over-application of manure. It also provides producers with a valuable fertilizer, saving money and improving organic content of the soil. Producers who have 1,000 beef cattle, 700 mature dairy cattle or 2,500 finishing hogs kept in an unroofed pen are required to have NMPs in Iowa. The public may review the NMP at the appropriate DNR field office at any time and make comments on the NMP to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

NMPs - Information for the Producer

For an NMP form, use DNR form 542-2021 (or DNR form 542-2021), Nutrient Management Plan. This form is available as a Word, Excel, or PDF format. Producers must submit a copy of the NMP to the appropriate DNR field office. Allow 60 days for the DNR to review and approve or disapprove the plan. This includes time for the public to comment on the plan or request a public hearing. When developing a new plan, include time to:

• calculate how much cropland is needed to land apply manure,
• obtain soil samples less than four years old,
• calculate the P index and soil loss (RUSLE2) for each field where manure or effluent will be land applied, and
• obtain written agreements if spreading on land not owned or rented by the producer.
• Keep accurate records of manure application. Application record keeping form (DNR Form 542-8002) may be used for these records.

Publishing Public Notice:

Producers must publish a public notice (DNR form 542-1553, Public Notice for NMP at Open Feedlot) on the NMP, including where the NMP can be reviewed, in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or counties

• where the feedlot is or will be located, and
• where manure, process waste water or open feedlot effluent will be land-applied.

Producers must submit a clipping(s) or copy of the actual notice(s), including the publication date and newspaper name to the appropriate DNR field office. This information should be submitted to the DNR as soon as possible if not included with the NMP submittal, but no later than five days after the publication date. The DNR will consider public comments when reviewing the NMP. The DNR will also consider requests for a public hearing and notify the producer if a hearing is scheduled.

Open feedlots that wish to expand and will then need to obtain an NPDES discharge permit or are otherwise required to obtain an NPDES discharge permit must furnish the following as part of the NPDES application process.

• An NPDES Permit Application.
• Fees with the application
• An Open Feedlot Construction Permit Application- only needed for open lot construction as part of an NPDES permit or to modify a previous construction permit.
• Engineering Plans and design report with the application
  • Open Feedlot Structures must meet the design requirements of Rule 567 IAC 65.206.
• Anti Degradation Review (AR) with the application.
  • Rules found in Subrule 567 IAC 61.2(2) explain the requirements of an Anti Degradation Review for an open feedlot facility.
  • Identify the receiving stream designation.
• Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) with the application
• Publish a notice in a newspaper regarding NMP and AR. For example: fillable Public Notice form.
  • Notices must be published in a newspaper having a general circulation in the County or Counties where the feedlot will be located.
  • Include DNR Field Office location and address (or other location if available) where the general public may review the NMP.