Kevin Carstensen, the 2007 Iowa Cattlemen's Association president, and his wife, Terri, who is active in the Iowa Beef Industry Council, have operated a feedlot near Odebolt for approximately 30 years.

“As the cattle industry moves forward, I’m focused on building consensus and helping beef producers work together,î” said Carstensen, 52, who has also served as president of the Sac County Cattlemen’s Association several times.

So is his wife, Terri, who serves as chairman of the Iowa Beef Industry Council. Between the two of them, the pair spends anywhere from two to six hours a day fulfilling their roles as beef industry leaders and volunteers. That’s in addition to the daily work involved in running their 750-head feedlot and raising 800 acres of row crops and hay.

“We believe that cattle producers must be active in their association,î” Terri Carstensen said. “By staying involved, you have a better understanding of the many issues that affect your business every day.”

Protecting the environment

One of these key issues involves protecting Iowa’s water quality. That’s why the Carstensens started installing a vegetative filter channel system at their feedlot in 2003.

Effluent moves through the feedlot pens at a gradual rate before moving through a culvert and into the filter system. Concrete walls prevent effluent from running out of the feedlot, while gravel and strips of oats, brome and perennial rye remove solids from the feedlot before the water finds its way to a stream.

“While we’re not required to have a feedlot permit with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources since we’re under 1,000 head, we decided it made good sense to build the filter, since funds were available through Environmental Quality Incentives Program,î” said Kevin Carstensen, who chairs the Private Lands and Environmental Management Committee for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

 

Source: FarmNews