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"Although there are a relatively large number of products and
technologies being promoted for emission reduction, few have
been subjected to evaluation in the real world of swine
production," explained Michael Ellis, a professor in the
Department of Animal Sciences and leader of the project. "We
will create a number of 'Discovery Farm' existing enterprises
that will not only test these new technologies, but demonstrate
the best design and management practices to achieve emission
reduction." Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced the
$251,000 grant during a June 15 press conference on
the U of I campus.
Joining Ellis in overseeing the project are Ted Funk and
Yanhui Zhang of the Department of Agricultural and Biological
Engineering and Gary Schnitkey of the Department of Agricultural
and Consumer Economics.
For the past decade, Ellis and other U of I researchers have
engaged in two major research initiatives involving emissions
from swine production facilities.
"The issue of emissions of dust, odors and gases from swine
facilities is of critical importance to the state's swine
industry," Ellis said. "Public complaints and concerns about
proposed siting of new facilities and expansion of existing
operations are focused largely on the potential impact of
emissions.
"These concerns continue to be the major limitation on
long-term public acceptance and the prosperity of the industry."
According to the Illinois Pork Producers Association, the
pork industry has invested a tremendous amount of resources in
odor research. The Illinois association alone has invested
nearly $80,000 toward these efforts in the last two years.
In late 2004, the association initiated the Illinois Pork
Odor Research Advisory Committee, comprised of pork producers,
pork industry representatives, academia and government
officials. This group was a follow-up to the three-year efforts
of the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research
Strategic Research Initiative on Swine Odor and Waste
Management.
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 This committee determined that pork producers needed
independently tested and validated information to help them make
informed decisions regarding the most appropriate technology for
their farms. Technologies and practices were identified that needed
further on-farm testing to evaluate their effectiveness and their
economic viability.
In working with Ellis and his team from the University of
Illinois, a Discovery Farm was established at a finishing farm near
McLean.
Using this approach, Ellis noted, will allow producers to
directly and rapidly apply information to their facilities.
Additionally, appropriate technologies that can be retrofitted to
existing production facilities will be examined.
"We also plan to develop improved designs for emission reduction
that could be incorporated into new facilities," Ellis said.
The Discovery Farm project will consist of three phases. The
first phase involves identification of the Discovery Farms.
"These sites will be chosen after discussions with the staff at
the attorney general's office, the Illinois EPA and the Illinois
Pork Producers Association," Ellis explained. "Criteria for
identifying appropriate sites will include facilities typical of
those commonly used in Illinois that have multiple, similar
buildings and a willingness of the producer to be involved."
Phase II involves installation of equipment at each site, and
Phase III will be the testing of appropriate emission reduction
technologies.
Among the technologies that Ellis said will be tested are
biofilters; chimney stack exhausts; lagoon covers; the "Good
Neighbor System," a three-part program that claims to dramatically
reduce gas emissions; the ELM system, which uses electric current to
kill bacteria; and the BEI biocurtain.
[University
of Illinois news release]
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