Last summer Iowa producers tried new ways to reduce odor from their livestock operations. The Livestock Odor Demonstration Project began after the 1996 Iowa General Assembly allocated money to help find solutions to the problem of livestock odor. A second round of funding came in 1997. A total of 58 on-farm demonstration projects got underway last summer. Additional applications were recently accepted from producers and another 25 projects will receive funding soon.
Participants pay half the cost of the technology they employ.
Jeff Lorimor, a professor in the agricultural and biosystems engineering department, coordinates the project. The producers who have applied for these grants are very interested in controlling livestock odors and want to know how new technologies can help them do that. Participating livestock producers agree to try one of eight different technologies which researchers believe may reduce odor. The most popular choice of producers has been pit additives. Options include a plastic or a bio-cover made of a natural product such as wheat straw or chopped cornstalks.