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Innovations
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Fresh from the Farm David Taylor Abstract
Many of today's hog farms have become virtual "hog factories," with rising animal densities in barns and larger anaerobic lagoons for waste. As a result, complaints about odor emissions have increased. The volatile organic compounds that cause livestock odors can cause adverse respiratory, neurochemical, and stress-related health effects. Besides these human health effects, ammonia emissions from open manure lagoons can return to surface water in rainfall and foster harmful algal blooms. Some facilities are now using innovative procedures to combat hog farm odors and emissions. Barley straw is being used as a cap for waste lagoons. The cap reduces odor as long as the straw floats and no major breaks appear on the lagoon surface. Ventilation fan filters are being installed in barns to reduce odor and trap particulate matter that may pose an inhalation hazard. Biofilter separators, which use bacteria to break down odorous compounds, are a third option. Many farmers are concerned about the cost of installing straw caps, filters, and other systems on the farm. But expected tightening in odor emission legislation in states such as North Carolina may prompt the pork industry to look more favorably upon such technologies.
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