Keywords:
Livestock, Odor, Waste, Facilities, Control
Need Type:
Research
Relationship to NRCS Strategic Plan:
97 General Goal I, Stategic Obj 2, Key Task 297 General Goal I, Stategic Obj 3, Key Task 1

Select which CPPE Resource Concerns this need addresses:
AIR : Quality : Airborne odors

Problem Description:
-Livestock facilities produces odors that are very objectionable to rural and urban neighbors. Lawsuits develop as a result of odor complaints. There is very little data or technology available to control odors at the livestock facility nor during the manure application operation. The information that is available is very generalized (cleanliness, dust control, frequent cleaning, apply early morning, etc.

We can no longer rely on distance to be a factor for odor control. The population is such that very few livestock operations can be located more than 1/4th mile from another resident. Sites for manure application are also difficult to find at a distance from other residents.

Need Description: Technology is needed to better control or elimate odors from livestock operations. The livestock are no longer in small herds and no longer in isolated locations. The facilities are among livestock producers and non farming neighbors. Non livestock producers do not want the odor and the livestock producers want to control it also.

Related Research, Technology, and Work Available:

Major Obstacles to Overcome:
New technology and equipment to manage livestock and the manure/wastes produced by
livestock. We can no longer use the excuse that agriculture is exempt from odor complaints.
Agriculture must learn how to produce and adopt environmentally acceptable production
practices.

Other Considerations:
Waste storage and/or waste processing on the farm should be reviewed closely. It may not be in the best interest of the farmer to store waste on the farm, but rather have it hauled away frequently just as milk are hauled away.

Benefit If Resolved:
A more productive livestock enterprise in harmony with rural and urban America. More
farmers would be willing to raise livestock if odors could be better controlled. This would create the opportunities for more smaller operations presently less environmental risk than large operations.

Impact If Not Resolved:
Continued lawsuits and fewer and fewer livestock operations.

Availability of Assistance:

Author of Needs Request:
Norman L Widman
Title:
STATE AGRONOMIST
Address:
USDA-NRCS
200 N HIGH RM 522
COLUMBUS, OH 43215
Phone Number:
614-469-6932
Email Address:
norm.widman@oh.nrcs.usda.gov

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