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Newalta Dairy is planning to build a feedlot in the northeast quarter of Section 4 of Elmer Township. The site is expected to have two total confinement barns that will house 800 heifers. Source: Pipestone County
Newalta Dairy plans to build a new feedlot in the northeast quarter of Section 4 of Elmer Township. The plans call for the construction of two total confinement barns and permanent concrete manure stockpile areas. The barns will house 800 heifers for a total of 560 animal units.
Pipestone County Commissioners held a feedlot public meeting to hear input on the proposed feedlot during their May 13 meeting. Trevor Ekkel and John Vander Wal, of Newalta Dairy, were the only ones to speak during the public meeting, and Pipestone County Environmental Administrator Kyle Krier said he’d not received any comments or concerns prior to the meeting.
Ekkel said the feedlot would be one mile south and a little west of the dairy. He said the monoslope barns would be 50 by 420 feet and 60 by 420 feet.
“It’s going to be calves that are pretty much from weaning to six months old, so 200 pounds to 500 pounds,” Ekkel said.
He said manure would be cleaned out from the barns twice a year when the ground was ready for manure application. Vander Wal said the manure would be put on land owned or rented by Newalta Dairy, and that a neighbor had also expressed interest in some of it.
Krier said the proposed barns would meet the quarter-mile setback from neighboring properties that is required by the county’s zoning ordinance.
The commissioners do not take action during public feedlot meetings, which are held to provide an opportunity for public comment.
“It exempts the public from petitioning for an environmental assessment worksheet for the proposed site, so it’s more of a legislative requirement,” Krier said. “But it’s an opportunity for the neighbors to have a voice or bring concerns to the attention, so it’s a good thing.”