MASON CITY — Cerro Gordo County officials are raising concerns about a manure management plan update tied to a large livestock operation near Thornton, citing the site’s proximity to a protected waterfowl area.
The report before the Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors concerns Balsam Beef & Bacon, formerly known as Luscombe Enterprises. The operation is located at 7442 Balsam Ave. in Thornton in Section 31 of Union Township.
According to the report prepared by the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health, the confinement unit has capacity for 3,550 finishing hogs and 250 cattle.
The annual manure production is listed at 907,025 gallons of liquid manure, which is stored in below-building pits, along with 2,717 tons of solid manure from bedded cattle barns.
County officials said the manure management plan identifies two fields totaling 293.6 acres in Cerro Gordo County for manure application. The fields are located in the east half of Section 31 of Union Township. An additional field of 147.3 acres is located in Ell Township in Hancock County.
The report states that the fields where manure will be applied are unchanged from the previous plan. However, the updated filing reflects changes in crop rotation or optimum yields and manure analysis.
The primary concern identified by county officials is that the Union Hills Waterfowl Protection Area is about 1½ miles from the manure application area.
Under county policy, the Environmental Service Manager is required to review manure management plan filings and prepare a report to the Board of Supervisors detailing issues to be forwarded to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
The matter is expected to come before the Cerro Gordo County Board of Supervisors as part of its regular review process.