FLOODS of 2008


Other key sites to visit for flood recovery updates: Iowa DNR Iowa Department of Public Health Iowa State Extension	______________________________________________________________________ Animal Loss/Removal What are my options for disposing of animal mortalities? State law requires disposal of the carcasses within 24 hours of death. The options for disposal include burial, rendering, incineration, and composting. Not all of the options are available in every location or situation. If these options are not available, consider contacting your local landfill to determine whether the carcasses may be delivered to the landfill. What if I have a large number of animal mortalities? The catastrophic death of livestock warrants immediate attention. In the event of a catastrophic event, contact the Iowa DNR field office or 24-hour emergency line ((515) 281-8694) for specific permission on disposal options. The DNR field office may be able to waive the normal regulatory requirements for a short term composting site and provide specific instructions on emergency carcass disposal when other options are not available. In recent catastrophic events, the Iowa DNR has favored composting as the appropriate disposal option over other alternatives. Listen closely to the DNR staff and document the directions and approvals provided by DNR staff. Consider sending a follow-up letter to document the conversation and directions provided by DNR staff to ensure clarity of any emergency waivers granted. DNR field office phone numbers: Field Office # 1 - Manchester, Iowa (563) 927-2640 Field Office # 2 - Mason City, Iowa (641) 424-4073 Field Office # 3 - Spencer, Iowa (712) 262-4177 Field Office # 4 - Atlantic, Iowa (712) 243-1934 Field Office # 5 - Des Moines, Iowa (515) 725-0268 Field Office # 6 - Washington, Iowa (319) 653-2135 What are the requirements for burial of livestock? Carcasses may be buried within certain guidelines on the livestock farm, but are limited in how many carcasses may be buried per acre. It is not necessary to obtain a permit for dead animal burial if all of the following requirements are met: Carcasses are buried in numbers which do not exceed: 44 swine per acre; 7 cattle per acre; 73 sheep or lambs per acre; 400 poultry per acre; 2 carcasses of any other species. Carcasses are buried on land classified by the NRCS as "moderately well drained" or drier, or on land that is tile-drained. Carcasses cannot be buried on land which is in a floodplain, wetland or shoreline area. Carcasses are buried not more than 6 feet deep, are immediately covered with 6 inches of soil and are given a final cover of at least 30 inches of soil. Carcasses are buried at least 50 feet from adjacent property lines; at least 100 feet from any private well; at least 200 feet from any public well; at least 500 feet from any neighboring residence. What are the requirements for incineration? Only an engineered incinerator may be used that meets state emissions requirements. Homemade incinerators, burn piles and open burning of livestock is illegal and an air quality violation. It is recommended that producers with questions about these emission standards contact their equipment manufacturer to make sure these rules can be met with the equipment. What are the requirements for composting? Dead animals may be composting on the farm site by the owner or operator without obtaining a DNR permit. To compost, a base layer of 12-24 inches thick is ordinarily required unless permission is received from DNR to waive the requirement for emergency composting. The base layer can be compacted soil, compacted granular aggregates, asphalt, concrete or similar relatively impermeable material. 6-12 inches of bulking agent such as wood chips must be placed between carcasses. An additional 12 inches of cover material shall be maintained around carcasses at all times to control mortality leachate and odors and to prevent access by scavenging domestic and wild animals. The finished compost may be land applied to cropland in a manner that minimizes runoff. For additional information check the DNR’s website or the following ISU publications: “Composting Dead Livestock,” Emergency Livestock Mortality Composting in Iowa Web site, DisSolving Swine Mortality Problems Web site , or the IMMAG Web site. ______________________________________________________________________ Additional Links: Iowa State University - University Extention Livestock Concerns
Please read the Privacy and Legal Notices. ©2008 www.iowafarmbureau.com. All rights reserved.

Other key sites to visit for
flood recovery updates:

Iowa DNR

Iowa Department of Public Health

Iowa State Extension

______________________________________________________________________

Animal Loss/Removal

What are my options for disposing of animal mortalities?
State law requires disposal of the carcasses within 24 hours of death. The options for disposal include burial, rendering, incineration, and composting. Not all of the options are available in every location or situation. If these options are not available, consider contacting your local landfill to determine whether the carcasses may be delivered to the landfill.

What if I have a large number of animal mortalities?
The catastrophic death of livestock warrants immediate attention. In the event of a catastrophic event, contact the Iowa DNR field office or 24-hour emergency line ((515) 281-8694) for specific permission on disposal options. The DNR field office may be able to waive the normal regulatory requirements for a short term composting site and provide specific instructions on emergency carcass disposal when other options are not available. In recent catastrophic events, the Iowa DNR has favored composting as the appropriate disposal option over other alternatives.

Listen closely to the DNR staff and document the directions and approvals provided by DNR staff. Consider sending a follow-up letter to document the conversation and directions provided by DNR staff to ensure clarity of any emergency waivers granted.

DNR field office phone numbers:
Field Office # 1 - Manchester, Iowa (563) 927-2640
Field Office # 2 - Mason City, Iowa (641) 424-4073
Field Office # 3 - Spencer, Iowa (712) 262-4177
Field Office # 4 - Atlantic, Iowa (712) 243-1934
Field Office # 5 - Des Moines, Iowa (515) 725-0268
Field Office # 6 - Washington, Iowa (319) 653-2135

What are the requirements for burial of livestock?
Carcasses may be buried within certain guidelines on the livestock farm, but are limited in how many carcasses may be buried per acre. It is not necessary to obtain a permit for dead animal burial if all of the following requirements are met:

Carcasses are buried in numbers which do not exceed: 44 swine per acre; 7 cattle per acre; 73 sheep or lambs per acre; 400 poultry per acre; 2 carcasses of any other species.
Carcasses are buried on land classified by the NRCS as "moderately well drained" or drier, or on land that is tile-drained. Carcasses cannot be buried on land which is in a floodplain, wetland or shoreline area.
Carcasses are buried not more than 6 feet deep, are immediately covered with 6 inches of soil and are given a final cover of at least 30 inches of soil.
Carcasses are buried at least 50 feet from adjacent property lines; at least 100 feet from any private well; at least 200 feet from any public well; at least 500 feet from any neighboring residence.

What are the requirements for incineration?
Only an engineered incinerator may be used that meets state emissions requirements. Homemade incinerators, burn piles and open burning of livestock is illegal and an air quality violation. It is recommended that producers with questions about these emission standards contact their equipment manufacturer to make sure these rules can be met with the equipment.

What are the requirements for composting?
Dead animals may be composting on the farm site by the owner or operator without obtaining a DNR permit. To compost, a base layer of 12-24 inches thick is ordinarily required unless permission is received from DNR to waive the requirement for emergency composting. The base layer can be compacted soil, compacted granular aggregates, asphalt, concrete or similar relatively impermeable material. 6-12 inches of bulking agent such as wood chips must be placed between carcasses. An additional 12 inches of cover material shall be maintained around carcasses at all times to control mortality leachate and odors and to prevent access by scavenging domestic and wild animals. The finished compost may be land applied to cropland in a manner that minimizes runoff. For additional information check the DNR’s website or the following ISU publications: “Composting Dead Livestock,” Emergency Livestock Mortality Composting in Iowa Web site, DisSolving Swine Mortality Problems Web site , or the IMMAG Web site.

______________________________________________________________________

Additional Links:
Iowa State University - University Extention Livestock Concerns