UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Responding To Increasing Agricultural Odor-related Conflict, Which Has Resulted From New And Expanding Pennsylvania Livestock Facilities, Penn State's College Of Agricultural Sciences Offers Free Site Evaluations To Assess Odor Impacts.

"Armed with maps, compasses and a working knowledge of odor emission and dispersion, an assessor will visit a proposed site and offer an opinion of the site's suitability in relation to the potential for odor conflict," says Bob Mikesell, extension educator in dairy and animal science. "The assessor will evaluate separation distances from neighbors, prevailing wind direction, topography, surrounding vegetation, community sociology, surrounding land-use patterns and manure application areas." Reports about site strengths and weaknesses and recommendations will be delivered verbally to the producer and reinforced with written correspondence within two weeks of the site visit. "Often, simply re-locating or re-orienting a proposed facility can dramatically reduce the potential for odor complaints," Mikesell says. "Since 1999, well more than 100 sites have been evaluated."

For more information or to schedule an evaluation, contact Mikesell at 814-865-2987 or by e-mail at rem9@psu.edu.

###

EDITORS: Contact Bob Mikesell at 814-865-2987 or by e-mail at rem9@psu.edu.

Writer/Editor: Jeff Mulhollem Office 814-863-2719 FAX 814-863-9877