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A key part of running a successful hog operation is respect for the environment. That means instituting a well-designed manure management program with operating parameters that incorporate respect for the environment.
Producers are paying careful attention to lagoon construction, using correct design and materials and building where soils are least likely to conduct seepage to avoid water contamination. Manure must be incorporated into soil away from lakes or streams and at proper application rates. Soil and manure tests can help producers determine how much manure should be added to their land.
In Alberta , manure management is directed by regulation and a code of practice. They give producers guidelines to follow at all stages of manure application to ensure spreading is carried out in a way that protects the environment, especially water resources. Proper application of manure will also ensure crops get the right balance of nutrients for maximum yield.
Most producers know the importance of sustainable farming practices. Good manure management plans will protect the environment, minimize the impact of their operations on neighbors and preserve the nutrient value of manure as a crop fertilizer and soil conditioner.
Barn Odor
Producers take several steps to minimize the impact of their farms on surrounding areas and to encourage harmony with their neighbors and the communities in which they live. The three main sources of hog production odor are barns, manure storage facilities and field application. New strategies currently being developed focus on controlling manure in these areas.
Odor control is a high priority in the development of new barns. Feeder barn floors are slatted and sloped to allow manure to drop into concrete storage tanks. A separate area, called a "dunging area," is set aside for pig manure. These areas are cleaned regularly, as are farrowing and nursery barn floors, for the health and comfort of both swine and barn workers. Manure from the dunging area is regularly flushed out of the barn tanks into holding tanks or an earthen manure storage structure until it can be applied to fields as fertilizer.
New hog barns also have sophisticated ventilation and heating systems to control air temperature, relative humidity, airflow patterns and levels of dust and gas. Producers know that controlling barn climate is an important factor in swine comfort, health and reproductive efficiency.
Manure Storage Odor
Open surface earthen manure storage structures are considered one of the most practical and economical ways to store hog manure. Most earthen manure storages are made up of two holding cells. The first, or primary cell, separates solids from liquids that flow into the secondary cell for storage. Before manure can be applied to the land, solids and liquids must be mixed to ensure easier application and even distribution of nutrients.
Manure storage odor increases in direct proportion to the surface area of the stored manure, its temperature and the length of time it is stored. Emptying the storage in late spring rather than storing manure during hot summer months is one strategy to help control odor. Odor is released when the manure storage surface is disturbed by wind, during filling and when the manure is agitated prior to pump-out. The problem can be reduced by filling the manure storage from the bottom and minimizing agitation while emptying.
Other methods to reduce odour include storing manure in concrete or glass-lined steel tanks. Although these tanks are more efficient in capturing the nutrient value of manure, they are more costly.
Field Application
To minimize odor, manure must be incorporated into the soil as soon as possible after spreading. Some producers are moving to direct injection of manure into soil, a process which can help to decrease odor. Timing application to minimize the effects of odor can be the cornerstone of good neighbor and community relations.
Open communication is one of the best ways producers can be good neighbors. By being sensitive to factors such as time of day, weather conditions and neighbors' social activities, producers can better plan manure storage and timing of spreading activity.
Link to:
The Dirt on Pigs and the Environment
Socio – Economic Impact of Hog Operations in Alberta
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