A biophysical and socio-economic examination of the use of shelterbelts for swine odor mitigation

The use of shelterbelts (trees and shrubs) arranged in strategic designs near and within swine facilities potentially can play a significant incremental role in bio-physically mitigating odor in a socio-economically responsible way thereby reducing social conflict from odor nuisance. Shelterbelts of modest heights (i.e. 20--30 ft) may be ideal for plume interception, disruption, and dilution. Based on available evidence, there are five primary ways that shelterbelts can mitigate livestock odors: (1) Physical interception and capture of odor laden dust by trees/shrubs; (2) Dilution of gas concentrations of odor into the lower atmosphere; (3) Ground deposition of odor laden dust due to reduced wind speeds; (4) Providing a biological sink for the chemical constituents of odor after interception; and (5) Enhancing the aesthetics of pork production sites and rural landscapes.;Calculated costs for shelterbelt establishment and maintenance over a twenty-year period for four model pork-finishing farms when considering a seedling price scenario (0.50 tree/shrub) are below producer willingness to pay (WTP) for odor mitigation detailed by the USDA. Some high priced scenarios (≈9.59 tree/shrub) exceeded the WTP for producers of certain sizes. Yet, when cost-share programs (e.g. EQIP and CRP) are factored in, the total amortized costs are lowered below all WTP thresholds. Some of the results show positive cost margins (as much as 0.33--0.59 per pig produced of extra costs to spare) to suggest room for shelterbelts to be part of a suite of odor management technology .;A series of focus groups examined the notion that environmental quality may be marketed by way of producing and labeling as such, environmentally friendly pork. The analysis also examines pork producer and consumer interest in the use of shelterbelts as an environmental quality enhancing technology. Pork producers and consumers alike expressed skepticism about the marketability of odor reduction , suggesting such attributes may better be bundled with other credence type attributes (i.e. animal welfare, locally grown). If consumer\u27s pay for environmental protection by way of a premium for pork products produced with more pollution control then the traceability to the producer must be transparent. Producers must benefit directly from such premiums

A Combat with an Infective Atmosphere

n/

Odor Mitigation with Tree Buffers: Swine Production Case Study

Vegetative environmental buffers (VEB) are a potentially low cost sustainable odor mitigation strategy, but there is little to no data supporting their effectiveness. Wind tunnel experiments and field monitoring were used to determine the effect VEB had on wind flow patterns within a swine facility. Particle and odorous compound concentrations were monitored before and after the VEB. Wind tunnel experiments indicated that building orientation had about the same impact on air flow patterns as the combined buildings and VEB. Field monitoring studies revealed that air flow patterns at a swine facility were dynamic showing intense instability during the heat of the day, but stable air in the evening hours indicating that air during the day was controlled by vertical movement into the atmosphere while in the evening air patterns show a collapse mostly horizontal movement. Total particle counts before and after the vegetative buffer were reduced by over 40% and odorous compound concentrations for volatile fatty acids, phenol and indole compounds were reduced by 40–60%. Plant material taken from trees in the vegetative buffer showed no significant loading gradients between materials facing the swine facility and those opposite the swine facility. There were significantly higher loadings of odorous VFAs, phenolic, and indole compounds on plant material for samples taken from 2.7 m compared to samples taken from either 0.6 or 1.3 m indicating that vertical transport was major transport mechanism for odor at the swine facility

VEB-econ: An Outreach Tool for Designing Vegetative Environmental Buffers

Vegetative environmental buffers, or VEBs, are rows of trees and shrubs purposefully planted to mitigate livestock odor. In this article, we present VEB-econ, a free-to-use geographic information system–based decision support tool Extension professionals can implement when working with livestock producers in designing site-specific VEBs. A soil database links tree and shrub species recommendations to soil-based suitability guidelines. VEB-econ estimates annualized cost for tree establishment and management and opportunity costs and factors in potential Natural Resources Conservation Service cost-share payments. Additionally, VEB-econ can be used to design field windbreaks. VEB-econ is designed specifically to be useful to Extension professionals and other air quality stakeholders

Vegetative Buffers for Swine Odor Mitigation: Wind Tunnel Evaluation of Air Flow Dynamics

One of the most significant and persistent environmental concerns regarding swine production is odor transport from animal feeding operations and manure storage facilities. Odor constituents include ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and various volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which may exist as individual gaseous compounds or adsorbed onto particulates (Zahn et al., 1997; Trabue et al., 2006; Tyndall and Coletti, 2006). Building type, facility management, animal diet, and climate affect the amount of potential odor constituents generated at production facilities. Local environmental conditions, especially wind speed and direction, vegetative cover, and topography determine the amount of odor constituents transported downstream from production facilities. Odor mitigation strategies may be designed to reduce either odor generation or transport or both