Ohio State Studying Air Quality On Large Livestock Farms COLUMBUS, Ohio Air quality on and around large live stock farms is the focus of an on going Ohio State University study. Researchers LingYing Zhao and Mike Brugger of the Depart V-t ifi'j I’uiitflVifat» *fcrvuiVt *.*<■■»•• •* * t V* • ’ V<M V' 1 ment of Agricultural, Biological and Environmental Engineering, and Glen Arnold, assistant pro fessor and agriculture agent for Ohio State University Extension in Putnam County, started gath ering air quality data at three large farms in March. The team also collected data in June and will again in August. The research is being con ducted at a 600-cow dairy opera tion, a swine finishing facility with 1,000 hogs, and a poultry Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 16, 2003, Ag ProgressSection-E5l farm with nearly 100,000 birds. Researchers are examining gas levels, particulate emission, and odor concentration, and they plan to collect similar informa tion at three other large farms in 2004. ** t ' “We’re studying typical farms in Ohio to gain a glance at what’s happening,” said Zhao, an assist ant professor specializing in ani mal facilities and environment. The research will help provide in formation to farmers and re- searchers on air quality on am large animal facilities. The researchers are measuring three gases ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and carbon diox ide as well as odor and dust. They’re col lecting data at 14 points in and around the facili ties, up to 500 feet downwind from the main facility. Two types of equipment are used for each measurement to get the most accurate readings possible. They are also collecting in formation on weather conditions, which can have a strong effect on emissions. “We know that farm ers and workers are ex posed to gases and dust particles in livestock buildings,” Zhao said. “High level of air pollu tants can result in farm ers suffering acute symptoms or chronic symptoms, including a cough and tightening of the lungs. Lung func tion can decrease dur ing the period of expo sure. But there’s limited data on the amount of air emissions inside and outside of buildings or around manure storage areas.” Zhao, who previously worked for the Center for Odor Emission Con trols at the University of Illinois as a post-doc toral researcher, said she realized early in her career that air quality problems could spell trouble for the sustaina bility of large livestock facilities. With more such facilities being built, a solid base of in formation is necessary for owners and opera tors to run their farms without adversely affec ting air quality, and to lead to a greater under standing among farm ers, neighbors and poli cy makers, of the livestock production en vironment. The research is being funded by the Great Lakes Center for Agri cultural Safety and the university’s Ohio Agri cultural Research and Development Center. • The nation's largest dairy * • show, the All-American, • • is scheduled at the new * , and renovated Harrisburg a • Farm Show Complex • • Sept. 21-25. To highlight * • the event, Lantastar • • farming has scheduled • • its annual All-American * • Show issue Sept. 20. • • Along with the issue will * • be Family Farm Features , • on who is exhibiting. • • Also planned lor pages of * , Section A: the complete , • All-American schedule and • additional highlights * 9 ' * 5 surroum ling
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