Org Main Menu Beef. The family has been involved in agriculture in the Arlington area for 128 years. Today the business includes Bill and Kathy Rhea and their four sons and one daughter, Bill III, J.P., David and Lori. The business includes a feedlot covering approximately 80 acres with a one-time capacity of 6,000, head. They also have 4,000 acres of farmland, rotated between corn, alfalfa, and soybeans.
Manure utilization is part of the environmental efforts.
After 15 years of this practice, organic matter has increased to over 1.5 percent. This increase in organic matter has increased water retention, thereby increasing the efficiency of the irrigation system. Cattle pens are designed for cattle comfort, gains and efficiencies as well as pen maintenance and manure management. Odor from the ponds is reduced using a bacterial agent called BioCharge. In addition they use aerator windmills that float in the retention ponds to keep it in an aerobic state, further reducing odor.