LINCOLN — Consideration of what may become the state’s largest cattle feedlot has been postponed until June 6.

The final approval of the Blackshirt Feeders' 100,000-head feedlot was postponed by the Dundy County Board after discovering a public notice of the meeting hadn't been published in time to allow consideration during the board's meeting on Monday.

Blackshirt Feeders' proposal has been controversial due to its large size and potential impact on groundwater quantity and quality in Dundy County, located in the furthest southwest corner of Nebraska.

Eric Behlke, one developer of the feedlot, has assured local officials that the feedlot will meet all local environmental and water regulations.

The $65 million Blackshirt project would employ 85 workers and require up to 10 million bushels of corn a year.

Six nearby irrigation wells would have to be retired to obtain enough water for the feedlot.

In February, the Dundy County Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the Blackshirt project- contingent on 13 conditions, including obtaining approval of water rights from the local natural resources district, devising a dust and fly mitigation plan and giving nearby residents 24-hour notice if manure is to be land applied.

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