Reducing Odour and Noise Conflicts Between Rural Neighbours

Posted in: Environment by admin on January 1, 1997 | No Comments

General informations and guidelines are given to reduce and deal with conflicts between rural neighbours considering that the rural population often does not have a direct link to agriculture anymore. Those problems can be odour or noise related. Five SMART methods (Separation, Magnitude reduction, Alteration, Reduction and Timing) are presented to reduce possible odour and noise conflicts. The necessary methods to solve complaints problems are also presented and they are : hearing both sides of the complaint; developing an abatement program; and follow up.

Social Consequences of Environmental Concerns (1)

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The changes in the pork industry with the decline of the number of small producers and the increase number of large scale production units bring concerns about family farming and life quality in rural communities and neighborhoods. Opposition to the expansion of large intensive production units comes mainly from concerns about the environment and the impact on neighborhoods. Controversy comes from the values and belief that have either pork production advocates or critics. Often what is considered by one group as a fact may be judged by the other as a myth. Facts and data, when they exist are often not acceptable to all parties. One factor that can be pointed to explain environmental problems seems to be poor management practices and poor managers. And this is not related to the size of the swine farm or production unit. Large production units well manage may have much less environmental impacts than smaller units where balance between livestock numbers and available land is inappropriate, or if manure is considered as a waste. As changes in the society occur and pork producers become a more of minority even in areas where the number had been once important, it is unreasonable to expect that farming could benefit from exceptions or privileges when environment is considered. Environment has to become an important concern of the pork industry as environmental record is often seen as a good indicator of community commitment. Industry with bad environmental record are often viewed as unwelcome development and become the target of more public scrutiny and regulation.

The elements brought in this article are very interesting in the way they present the situation and the fact that the swine industry advocates and the critics don’t have the same view of the production and don’t see things from the same grounds. However no path of solutions are given. The management seem to be the key toward better respect of the environmenta

Attack of Concrete Floors in Pig Houses by Feed Acids: Influence of Fly Ash Addition and Cement-bound Surface Layers

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Concrete AYoors in pig houses are subject to attack by lactic and acetic acid, formed in spilled and soured mealA?water mixtures. Accelerated degradation tests, comprising cyclical exposure to acidic liquids and detachment of the unstable concrete by brushing, were used to simulate the attack of concrete AYoors and of cementbound surface layers. It is estimated that the eA

EFFECT OF FREE PHOSPHINE ON ANAEROBIC DIGESTION

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A Differentiated Approach to Calculate Ammonia Emissions from Animal Husbandry

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In the model, 3 different housing systems are considered: a system on slurry, a system on slurry plus solid manure and deep litter system. The precision of the model is influenced by the exactitude of the hypothesis made concerning excretions, management parameters and ammonia emission rates. The total error is estimated to be of a maximum of 20% (+ or-). This type of application could be valuable as educational aid for farm advisors.

N2O, CH4 and NH3 Emissions from Composting of Swine Waste

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The experiment was done in a 52 L batch reactor. The emissions rates measured varied for ammonia from 400 to 970 g NH3-N/m3, for methane from 0,6 to 385 g CH4/m3 and for nitrous oxide from 1,9 to 71,9 g N2O-N/m3. No information is given on the C/N ratio of the mix used for composting (mature compost, saw dust and manure). No statistical analysis is presented to explain the emissions variations and the aeration treatments.

Ammonia Emissions in Farrowing-Weaning Houses with Frequent Slurry Removal System

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Testing between only two buildings make the comparison difficult as the differences could come from other factors than manure handling systems and not statistical analysis is done to allow this verification. The ventilation rates in the two buildings are different which make the comparison also difficult. Ventilation rate and air velocity (closely related) are important factors in ammonia emission rates.

Animal Production and the Environment

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Important changes occurred in the swine production in the last 40 years. Importation of feedstuffs from regions where pigs are not produced is now common. The manure produced is spread on the surrounding lands of the swine building which can lead to excessive amounts of phosphorus, copper and zinc accumulated in the soil. Intensive swine buildings can produce odors, ammonia and dusts that exceed acceptable levels. As a result, in some countries and states, new legislation try to control the animal manure use, the expansion or the localization of swine production units. The environmental consequences of the intensive swine production are presented along with nutritional means to help control the situation. Special attention is put on the Dutch experience and forthcoming legislation. Environmental constraints for the pig production that may come in the future are also discussed.

The MINAS legislation on minerals accounting system is presented. with the standards. Farms with more than 2,5 LU/ha have to submit a minerals account based on the input (supply of animals, feed, fertilizers, manure from other farms) and output (slaughter animals, milk, animal manure, crops). When certain limits for the phosphorus and nitrogen are exceeded, the farmers have to pay levies.

Effets de la tremie-abreuvoir sur le volume d'entreposage des lisiers

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Experiments were done to evaluate the effect of wet/dry feeder on the total manure volume produced by pigs. The results showed that for dry feeder and drinkers, the manure produce equals 7.34 L/pig per day and when the pigs are fed using dry/wet feeders, the volume of manure produced is 2,97 L/pig per day. When considering cleaning and extra water needed for manure removal when the wet/dry feeders are used, this lead to total manure volumes of 8,07 L/pig per day for dry feeder and drinker compared to 4,14 L/pig per day for wet/dry feeders. The reduction equals 48% and the results agree with the literature. This conclusion could lead to a change in the standard for the evaluation of the volume required for swine manure storage.

Means to reduce water wastage have to be considered as the excess manure produced has to be stored and subsequently spread. The extra water coming from spillage contribute only in more dilution of the nutrients in the manure.

A Guide to Pipeline Manure Injection Systems

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Pipeline injection systems for hog manure make efficient use of the nutrients present in the manure and minimize odour problems. However, they are costly to install. The level of investment varies with the size and complexity of the system. The reductions of transportation costs, road damages and risks for soil compaction associated with slurry wagon have to be considered in the economic evaluation of pipeline systems. Different pipeline systems are discussed as well as injection / application tools and incorporation equipements. An exemple is also given to help sizing systems. Tips are also given to evaluate whether it is better to buy or hire to do manure application with pipeline manure injection systems.