Their case will be heard by state Circuit Judge David Rains. The plaintiffs want the court to force the Woottens to stop the odors. And they want damage payments for the two years they claim they have been unable to enjoy the use of their property, as well as for health problems and emotional suffering. Gold Kist says they own the animals and the feed, but not the facilities or the waste. The Woottens claim their operations meet all environmental and health requirements.
Agriculture is a smelly business, they say.
And as modern farmers, they add, they must operate their large-scale hog farm to survive. In the past 10 years, big pork farms have sprung up across the United States. Since 1990, commercial pork production rose 26 percent while farm-raised pork dropped by half, USDA statistics show. Meanwhile, U.S. pork exports have quadrupled. Today most pigs are raised in 1,000-animal barns.