Environmental Services Division
For Immediate Release
March 8, 2005
DES MOINES - A three-year livestock odor study involving more than 1,700
measurements from around the state has been completed with the results now
available on the DNR website at:
http://www.iowadnr.com/air/afo/files/Odor.pdf.
"We wanted this to be an unbiased, straightforward study to assess odors
using
the technology available to do so and I believe we've succeeded in producing
such a study," said Wayne Gieselman, division administrator for the
Environmental Services Division of the DNR.
Odors associated with livestock operations have been a concern in rural
areas of
Iowa and those concerns have intensified in recent years as livestock
operations
have grown in size and as more non-farmers have moved to rural areas.
In addition to measuring odor levels, the study also looked at trends
associated
with various livestock species, sizes of operations, types of operations,
conditions and manure application methods.
Iowa does not currently have any odor standards or regulations. For the
purpose
of the study, the current standard used by the state of Wyoming that uses a
7:1
dilution level recorded on a device known as a scentometer was utilized to
determine "exceedances."
Overall, the study recorded odor exceedances in 7 percent of the
measurements
taken including 11 percent of the time when the measurement was associated
with
manure application and 7 percent of the time when associated with livestock
facilities. Only 4 percent of the measurements taken at public use areas,
educational institutions, religious institutions, residences and commercial
enterprises had exceedances recorded.
"This was an opportunity for us to begin measuring odors and to gain a
better
understanding of the issue," Gieselman said.
Gieselman said the DNR not only learned from the information collected, but
from
the actual collection of the data as well.
"For us, it was a chance to learn about and gain experience using the
equipment
that measures odors. This is not a case of someone simply being able to grab
the
equipment, go out and take measurements. Our people had to receive a great
deal
of training and their noses actually had to be 'calibrated,' to do the
study,"
said Gieselman.
The odor study, which was required as part of legislation passed in 2002,
will
be presented at the next meeting of the Environmental Protection Commission
on
March 20th.
"The study was discontinued because there was no additional money
appropriated
to continue it. What is done with these results is now up to the
Legislature,"
said Gieselman.
Other key findings of the study included:
* Liquid animal manure that was stored under the barns in deep pits had a
lower
exceedance rate that manure stored outside the barns in lagoons or tanks.
* The exceedance rate was not directly correlated to the size of an animal
feeding operation; the way that the manure was managed played a significant
role
in determining odor exceedance rate measured.
* Injection of liquid manure resulted in a lower exceedance rate than
surface
application with subsequent incorporation.
Gieselman said the study, overall, did not indicate wide-spread odor
problems at
locations afforded special setback considerations under law such as the
public
use areas, educational institutions, religious institutions, residences and
commercial enterprises.
"The study also indicates that at least some of the odor problems we may
have
out there could be taken care of with better management practices,
application
methods or different storage systems," Gieselman said.
For more information, contact Sean Fitzsimmons at 515-281-8923.
-30-
Kevin Baskins, Communications Bureau Chief
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
(515) 281-8395
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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