County approves livestock permits for Boeve, Ver Steeg

Two Rock County producers received conditional use permits to expand their operations in 2016.
For the permit, both producers need to meet county and state feedlot rules but G & A Farms Inc. had two extra stipulations added as a result of the July 25 public hearing. County commissioners reaffirmed the added conditions at their Aug. 4 meeting.
Glen and Matt Boeve will have to remove an existing manure stockpile in Section 19 of Clinton Township and moralities can only be handled/stored at the feedlot location in Section 20 of Clinton Township, according to Land Management Director Eric Hartman.
The stockpile needs to be removed by Dec. 31, Hartman said. The Boeves are then required to follow the county’s feedlot ordinance of not locating short-term manure piles within three-eights of a mile from the nearest residence.
The Boeves are combining two existing feedlots into one facility to finish 2,475 of cattle and 2,400 hogs. The site in Section 20 of Clinton Township would also hold 1,000 head of nursery swine for a total capacity of 2,980 animal units, up from 1,990.5.
All manure would be stored in under-floor concrete pits and earthen basins with the solid manure stored in manure packs on the open lots and/or stockpiles with process wastewater from feed storage areas to be stored in earthen basins.
In the second permit request, Chad and Harold Ver Steeg proposed adding a 2,800-head swine-finishing barn in Section 32 of Battle Plain Township.
The barn would be located south of two existing 1,000-head finishing barns.
Under the new permit, the Ver Steegs would be allowed 1,440 animal units, up from 600 at the site.
No additional conditions were added to the Ver Steeg permit.