Some manure also contains traces of hormones, heavy metals, or antibiotics. Animal waste problems are not limited to water. Odors concern farm neighbors. Bulk manure storage can produce gases like ammonia and hydrogen sulfide at levels that may pose health risks for workers. In recent years, economic conditions have favored development of larger-scale animal operations 5 .
Large operations have the potential to create large problems.
As farms have grown, so too have suburbs, reaching out from cities into farming areas, bringing residents in closer contact with large-scale animal operations. Together these trends have increased public concerns about pollution and odors from animal wastes. Regulatory Challenges Compliance efforts in agricultural settings face special challenges. Some challenges are institutional. Government s traditional role with agriculture has emphasized assistance and subsidy rather than regulation.