USING TREES TO REDUCE DUST AND ODOUR EMISSIONS FROM POULTRY FARMS

Emissions of dust, ammonia and odour from poultry operations are an increasing environmental concern for the poultry industry in many regions of world. Odour, dust, feathers, noises and visual aspects of poultry operations are additional issues that we must deal with to maintain good neighbor-relations. With more frequent use of tunnel fans during warm weather and more outdoor activities by neighbors, summer is often a critical time for nuisance complaints to surface. During the past few years in the USA there have been an increasing number of legal cases involving nuisance complaints associated with neighbors next to and downwind tunnel-ventilated poultry houses. Compounding nuisance concerns is the increase in human population in many historic poultry producing areas. As many poultry and livestock producing areas of the USA become more urbanized, the likelihood of increased nuisance-related complaints will only increase. These issues are exacerbated as the size of poultry farms increase. To further add to the poultry industry’s future challenges, emissions from poultry houses in the USA may be regulated in the future. Both ammonia and dust emissions may fall under several existing laws that require reporting and/or reduction of these pollutants. Currently there are only several states that regulate odour, most of this focus to date has been associated with swine rather poultry operations