Building Interiors
The inside surfaces of pork production buildings should
be kept clean and dry. These buildings should have a
ventilation system that is working well to bring in fresh
air. Air exhaust hoods can be used to help disperse odor.
Manure Treatment and/or Storage Systems
Manure treatment and/or storage systems are built to
treat and/or store manure from a set number of animals.
Trees, shrubs, fences or other visually appealing elements
can be used to control air movement and disperse odorous
air. Some manure systems can be
covered to reduce odors.
Manure Application
Lagoon liquid shouldn’t be sprayed if it is windy enough
to cause drift of liquid off the property. When using solid
or slurry forms, the manure can be injected or mixed into
the soil after being applied on the surface.
Additional Strategies
Deodorants and masking agents are available, but have
not proven reliable. Dietary modifications and feed
additives are also used to reduce odor-producing compounds
in manure.
Producers know that it is in their best interest to keep
odors under control. As a result, producer-funded
organizations, pork industry businesses and government
agencies sponsor numerous forums and educational workshops
each year on odor management. University and industry
research is ongoing to identify odor control technologies. |
Community Relations
Does pork production decrease land value?
All business
activity affects the value of nearby assets. Pork production
can have both positive and negative influences on the value
of property. Within a county, pork production is believed to
have positive effects on land values for several reasons.
First, increased jobs and tax base attributed to the animal
feeding operation’s increase property values. Pork
production also creates a demand for grain, which increases
the value of locally produced crops and the land.
Two recent studies indicate that the presence of hog
production facilities exerts downward pressure on the
value of residences within three miles of the facility.
However, the effect dissipates rapidly the farther the
house is from the facility. After three miles, the impact is
negligible.
Pork production facilities appear to have little effect
on the value of nearby agricultural land used for farming.
These operations provide a resource for nearby cropland
through the valuable nutrients from manure.
Why are there moratoriums on increasing pork production?
Environmental concerns and odors are causing some
states and local governments to pass moratoriums on new
construction or expansion of pork operations.
These moratoriums are not intended to be long-term
prohibitions. They are for a limited time to give regulatory
agencies and producer organizations time to develop
solutions to the perceived environmental
problems associated with pork production. |
