A22-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 23, 1995
Manure ‘Odor Guidelines’
(Continued from Pago A2l)
mal facility that is in their neigh
borhood, whether it be a produc
tion facility or a processing facili
ty, they’re more likely to be
offended by any odors that come
from that facility,” he said.
If an odor situation develops,
the use of odor masking products
often aggravates the situation.
It may not be “wise to use a
masking agent because the neigh-
‘Whether we like it or not, individuals
smell as much with their eyes as they do
with their noses,*
bors perceive that you’re just try
ing to cover up the odor. Their
olfactory system starts to sort out
the fact that there is an odor along
with the mask and they are more
angry than they were initially.”
Besides, in research on masking
effectiveness, the agents simply
didn’t work.
“We showed that a counterac
tant and an oxidizing agent were
the only two products that signific
antly improved our odor parame
ters,” he said. “A digestive agent,
chemical agent, and absorbent had
no impact on odor quality
parameters.”
A prime benefit of odor
research, according to Williams,
J
was using technology to come up
with specific numbers to establish
the acceptable “odor units” to use
as guidelines, much like that used
by European countries. There is no
proven technology that wiU match
the human nose—so the universi
ty made use of “human sensory
panels.” People were selected to
determine tolerance levels for the
presence of odors and to establish
protocols. These kinds of efforts
are part of litigation procedures in
Europe and Australia.
They were also used to evaluate
masking and other odor abatement
products.
“We were getting contacted by
There is no proven technology that will
match the human nose—so the university
made use of ( human sensory panels
producers, noton a daily basis, but
a significant amount of producers
that were telling us, T am very
frustrated, I have spent revenues
on products for odor control and I
am not having positive results. My
neighbors feel that I am not doing
KfflBflBRS&M
anything.’ We thought we needed
to address the issue.”
There are answers to odor prob
lems, many of which are simply
not economically sound. In once
case, in Denmark, a facility con
taining three thermophilic diges
ters three tanks each measuring
1,800 cubic meters digest 400
tons of manure per day. While the
central processing facility takes
care of potential manure problems,
the cost and liability make that pro
hibitive in the U.S.
In the meantime, U.S. producers
can do a great deal to ensure they
are protected from odor lawsuits.
One is to handle and spread the
manure using simple common
sense. He noted one case where a
North Carolina farmer spread the
manure on a hot, humid evening in
a field before the start of a high
school football game.
Also, forming a strategy to deal
with the response in a “pro-active
way” should involve all the par
ties. Communication is key.
“My observation in North Car
olina is that over 90 percent of the
producers do everything they can
to minimize the impact of odors to
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Shank said the family was *naive * and
regretted the fact that they didn f t involve
the community from the start ‘We should
have involved the community in the
decision-making process > to set up the fin
ishing facility.
their neighbors.” Williams sard.
A producer also spoke at the
conference about the challenges
and concerns about odors.
Edwin Shank, Scotland, a
100-cow dairy farmer, also man
ages a 2,000-hog finishing opera
tion. The operation encompasses
about 120 acres north of
Chambersburg.
About a quarter of a mile away
is a shopping mall. Nearby are
houses.
Shank spoke at the conference
about the litigation he faced after
one neighbor filed a complaint and
proceedings started.
Shank said the family was
* ‘naive’ ’ and regretted the fact that
they didn’t involve the community
from the start. “We should have
involved the community in the
decision-making process” to set
up the finishing facility.
Shank said that he did many
things, including setting up a tree
barrier, to dispel the dust and
odors. But he said the family was
“shocked and somewhat
*1 told them / was sorry and we were
embarrassed
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offended. We didn’t realize any
one was that upset at us.”
But Shank emphasized the
importance of involving the com
munity in decisions and allow
them to see and understand how a
farm operation works. It is impor
tant to talk to neighbors first and
find out what they think. “I told
them I was soiry and we were
embarrassed,” he said.
This “open communication” is
essential. And work to reduce
odors is important. If they detect
that you’re not really trying, he
said, you’ll have problems.
During a group action planning
session at the conference. Shank
said more public education of
farming is necessary. Also, more
farmers need to be involved in
township decision making.
Editor’s Note: Next week,
part 2 examines ways in which
agriculture has examined odor
control from a producer and leg
al standpoint.
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