By Bruce Cochrane.
The use of computer models to assess the potential dispersion of odor from proposed livestock operations in the United States has become a popular method for predicting the potential of impact of odor.
"Odor Mitigation Strategies" was among the topics discussed as part of the 2017 Manitoba Swine Seminar in Winnipeg.
Dr. Erin Cortus, an Environmental Quality Engineer with South Dakota State University, says, in South Dakota, the South Dakota Odor Footprint Tool, a tool similar to one used in Nebraska which originated in Minnesota, is being used to assess the potential for odor.
Dr. Erin Cortus-South Dakota State University:
The basic concept behind how they work is it looks at what are the odor sources on a farm.
What are the barns, what are manure storages and what types are they?
Then it looks at the surface area of these sources, so it takes the surface area, uses some literature data on odor emissions for those particular types of sources and then it uses that with historical weather data and background dispersion modeling to then estimate, from a source, what are the distances from that source to reach annoyance free levels.
These odor footprint tools are freely available on the different extension web sites for the different states.
As an extension specialist with SDSU, I've had calls in the past from producers wanting to use it at a local government hearing for example.
They want to show that they've made an assessment of what the potential odor impact is.
I've had local county governments contact me to understand what is the odor impact from a facility or type of facility.
As facilities grow, what's the potential impact for odor impacts?
Then I've had neighbors.
They hear an expansion is going to happen at a local farm.
What is the potential impact of odor on them and so I can use that tool or work with them or provide it to them, however they want to work it and can start to look at some scenarios as well.
Dr. Cortus says, once the potential odor footprint has been determined, producers can consider a variety of options to reduce the odor footprint.
Source: Farmscape