Feed neighbors pork to cut odor problems NEWARK, Del. Not everyone agrees on what constitutes an obnoxious odor. When economic times are good ui the swine in dustry, hog house odors aren’t too bad, as far as the producer is concerned. .When prices are low and feed costs high, the smells are likely to take on a more offensive nature. Odor control is a problem for the hog producer. The problem usually consists of complaints from neighbors either directly or through the Environmental Protection Agency. “Producers are aware of the difficulty and most try to deal with it as effectively as technology and economics permit,” say Univer sity of Delaware Extension livestock specialist Richard Fowler. “Odors from swine units aren’t hazardous to human health. But health sometimes becomes an issue m hotly contested cases. “In an agricultural community livestock odors are occasionally going to be detected. Complaints begin when their intensity, duration and frequency exceed reasonable limits. ” Where do odors come from? Manure decomposition is the primary source. Freshly excreted manure has a less offensive odor than manure that’s undergoing decomposition, says the specialist. For an odor to be detected it must be formed, released and transported. The interruption of any of these three processes can reduce odor problems. You can reduce odor formation by reducing moisture content. Manure containing Jess than .40 percent moisture has little anaerobic decomposition, AGRI-EQUIPMENT HAS THE LOW COST ANSWER: ENVIRO-FAN CEILING FANS Applications: Poultry houses Dairy barns Milking parlors Storage buildings Greenhouses Office areas therefore little odor. Odor escape proximately 1 cubic foot of storage can be prevented by covering for each pound of liveweight pig manure storage tanks. Hydrogen that is loading the lagoon. Floating sulfide odors can be controlled aerators help reduce lagoon odor with tune or other alkaline in areas of high odor sensitivity, materials. “Disposal techniques and timing Proper management of a swine have a great effect on odor manure handling system can help development or dispersal,”, says reduce odor. This begins with the the specialist. “Apply manure design and location of the system, early in the day to maximize Make sure outdoor lots are well- drying time. Prompt incorporation drained and don’t let watering of manure into the soil is an ex- (Continued from Page D 4) systems drain onto the lot surface, cellent way to reduce odors.” Though his host spoke excellent Because of Death’s efforts. Screens and/or windbreaks are Some odor control coenucais are English, Steve managed quite well Boquete’s farmers may now be effective in reducing odor in- available. Many are too expensive without an interpreter, thanks to able to find out-before they plant tensity. Well-landscaped, neatly and unreliable to use effectively, six years of high school and college how much infection is present in kept facilities help create fee There are several types of agents. Spanish. He admits his grammar their seed potatoes. This gives positive image of a producer who Some have a stronger odor in order and vocabulary sometimes left a them the option of rejecting a bad cares. Fowler says one unit he to mask the offensive odor. But bit to be desired, but says everyone lot, or looking for a better source, knows of even has a vegetable ■ given the subjective nature or was extremely gracious and The result could be bigger yields garden between two swine houses, odors, some people find these ' . from healthier plants. Manure lagoons present special masking agents more unpleasant Potatoes are a major crop in The experience gave the young challenges for odor control A than the primary problem. Chiriqui province. Before he plant pathologist an opportunity to properly designed lagoon for Odor counteractants are arrived he didn’t know what plant prove himself, too. “It was the first anaerobic manure decomposition designed tointeract with odors and problems he would encounter, but real chance I’ve bad as a graduate on Delmarva will allow ap- lessen their intensity. These agents as Death toured the farms of student to function completely < Marciacq and other cooperative alone in the field-no books and no riiamr nrnnc liavp nnc Qtin nnumc members, it soon became obvious professors to fall back on,” he lillClTjr uuph lid VC ups dim uumis they could use some help con- says. trolling plant diseases on this crop. Death finished his master’s work Because of diseased potato seed this spring. He’s spending the stock and unsanitary handling summer in Delaware working on practices, some farmers were several of Carroll’s research losing as much as half their crop, projects. He plans to prepare two Others were losing between 20 and articles based on his thesis for 30 percent of their yield to disease. submission to a scholarly journal. “Hie screening method I worked He’s also helping Carroll review out for their seed potatoes requires the results of other recent very little equipment,” says Death, graduate research and organize “We used kitchenjmives instead of them for publication, scalpels to cut our tissue samples This fall he’ll continue bis and then placed these on an agar studies at the University of Illinois gel to culture out the bacteria.” at Champaign-Urbana, working Once he’d perfected his toward a Ph.D. in plant pathology screening technique, he taught it to ■ and international agriculture. His five or six of the leading members experiences with the farmers of of the co-op. He also demonstrated Boquete will no doubt add meaning the procedure on several of the to those studies, farms he visited. HARRISBURG - Tart cherry production in Pennsylvania is estimated at eight million pounds, up 43 percent from last year’s crop of 5.6 million pounds, according to the Pennsylvania Crop Reporting Service. Pennsylvania sweet cherry production is estimated at 400 tons, down 43 percent from the 1980 crop 700 tons. Average date of full bloom for Pennsylvania tart cherries was April 23 compared with May d a year ago. There was a good bloom but low. night temperatures resulted in locally light to heavy freeze damage. Average date of full bloom for oO*°U|c •ask** Confinement buildings Livestock buildings Processing plants Warehouses Machine shops Homes Churches And other ideas sweet cherries across the state was April 18 compared with April 29 a year ago. A week or so of un seasonably hot weather brought on the early bloom and then night temperatures in the 20’s caused heavy freeze damage. Harvest of tart cherries is ex pected to begin this week. Tart cherry production nationwide is forecast at 142 million pounds, a 35 percent decrease from last year and 17 percent blow 1979. Harvest of sweet cherries began June 26. A sweet cherry crop of 139 thousand tons is forecast nation wide, 19 percent less than a year ago and the smallest sweet cherry crop since 1972. 1. Last Winter’s Heating Costs! 2. Thought Of Air Conditioning Bills To Come! 3. Buildings With No Air Circulation! 4. Mildew And Stale Air! • Sealed chrome steel ball bearings • Totally enclosed motor, special moisture resistant silicone treated • No maintenance • Displaces 24,000 cubic feet of air per minute (CFM) • Solid state infinite speed controls • Uses less energy than 40W bulb at low-speed • 15 amp circuit runs up to 13 fans • Easy installation, just mount an& plug in 32" cord. Completely assembled (except blades) AGRI- CATTLE HOG POULTRY EQUIPMENT 2754 CREEK HILL RD. ( LEOLA, PA 17540 PHONE: 717-656-4151 ★ SERVING PA, N.J. and N.Y. Fan Carries a Five-Year Warranty and Features: EQUIPMENT, .NO. Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 11,1981—05 ♦ _ have been partially effective. Enzymatic products alter the process of manure breakdown. They also have had'limited suc cess. One hog producer told Fowler he Del. student • All metal construction 60” dia meter blade sweep • Effective up to 60 ft. ceiling height • Aerodynamically designed blades for maximum air delivery • Down rods available in 10” lengths • Fans and controls are warranteed to be free from defects in materials and workmanship at the time of shipment from the factory and for a period of five years. occasionally likes to feed his neighbors some pork. He says it helps create good will and lets the neighbors know that there’s something delicious being produced admidst the odor. STORE HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 7:30 to 5:00 Saturday - 7:30 to 11:30
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers