Odor from large hog confinement facilities has been a major concern for many years. To
address these concerns, Jennifer Reed, Nutrient Compliance Director for Country View
Family Farms, right, and Chris Frame, nutrient management specialist with Hostetter Man
agement Company, are constantly looking for new methods of manure odor control.
Aeration Key To Reducing
Manure Odors From Sow Operation
CAROLYN N. MOYER
Bradford Co. Correspondent
GILLETT (Bradford Co.) Manure odor from
large farming operations has been a major issue, es
pecially among the rural non-farm public, for many
years,
However, for the neighbors of the Pine Hill Sow
Farm, located in northern Bradford County, the fa
miliar smell of hog manure has proven to be less of
fensive over the past year. This is due largely to the
ongoing research conduced by Country View
Family Farms along with Hostetter Management
Company.
In September of 2001, workers at the Pine Hill fa
cility implemented a new aeration system in their
manure pit. When spreading began in the spring
and summer of 2002, the manure had a less pungent
odor, according to area farmers and the workers at
the facility.
In fact, operators at the Pine Hill facility reported
that there were no odor complaints to the farm last
summer.
“A lack of response I think indicates that it’s
working. I’m proud of this past year when we had
no calls complaining about odor,” said Chris
Frame, a nutrient management specialist with Hos
tetter Management Co. LLC.
“Prior to this past year there v/ere always a few
calls that would come in.”
The technology is simple. Air from a single five
horsepower pump is forced through tubing, which
lies at the bottom of the lined lagoon, and is released
through four cross-shaped diffusers.
The result is that air is constantly being pumped
through the slurry, creating an aerobic condition
and reducing the odor. Liquid bacteria are also
placed in the manure pits under the barns, which
flow into the aerated lagoon.
The addition of liquid bacteria has been tested in-
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