Opportunities Opportunities Lessons Learned Using Lessons Learned Using Vegetative Environmental Using Trees for Vegetative Environmental Using Trees for Buffers for Poultry Farms Buffers for Poultry Farms Vegetative Vegetative Environmental Environmental Bud Malone Bud Malone Extension Poultry Specialist Extension Poultry Specialist University of Delaware University of Delaware Buffers Buffers July 31, 2007 July 31, 2007 NRCS Training Denton, MD Planting Trees and Shrubs for Planting Trees and Shrubs for Curtailment of Dust and Air Pollutants Curtailment of Dust and Air Pollutants Delmarva Delmarva Pilot program for cost share developed by Pilot program for cost share developed by Brazil Brazil European Tree Programs European Tree Programs VEB Is Not New U of Conn. CE and Conn. State ASCS VEB Is Not New U of Conn. CE and Conn. State ASCS Office in 1991. Office in 1991. Timing of Initiative Not Right for Conn. Timing of Initiative Not Right for Conn. Delmarva NO trees or scrubs next to houses. Delmarva NO trees or scrubs next to houses. Europe Europe Australia Australia DMV Nuisance DMV Nuisance Industry Issues, Industry Issues, Complaints Complaints Trends & Trees Trends & Trees (conversion to tunnel (conversion to tunnel Tunnel, windowless houses Emissions ventilation in 1990s) ventilation in 1990s) larger farms & expansion Rural encroachment + conflict/zoning Stakeholder meeting Dec. 2000
Goals of Vegetative Environmental Buffer (VEB) Goals of Vegetative Environmental Buffer (VEB) Initial Test Encouraging Initial Test Encouraging 1.Visual screen 2.Windbreak + Shade 3.Vegetative filter Dust and ammonia � � Dust and ammonia 4. Biosecurity reduction with a reduction with a single , immature single , immature Leyland cypress Leyland cypress tree: tree: � 30% less dust 30% less dust � � 18% less ammonia 18% less ammonia � 2001 Demo Tree Plan Tree Plan 2001 Demo Funding for VEB Studies Funding for VEB Studies � Tree plan = Tree plan = � N -East: East: red cedar red cedar for screen for screen - � Sussex Conversation District- 2001 (demo (visual + noise) (visual + noise) planting) - -North: North: red cedar red cedar for for � Delaware Landscape and Nursery Assoc.-2001 (tree species) windbreak windbreak � EPA/DNREC NPS Program Section 319-2002 (air - -West: West: red cedar red cedar+ +white pine white pine for for & water quality) windbreak, screen & filter. windbreak, screen & filter. � NRCS Agroforestry-2002 (implementation) - -South: South: white pine white pine+ +red cedar red cedar � US Poultry and Egg Assoc.-2002 (production) for screen for screen � USDA/NRI -2004 (continuation of environment and implementation) Production Production Lessons Learned! Lessons Learned! Benefits Benefits � Reduce snow drifting Reduce snow drifting � � Plan/plant early! � Reduce heating cost Reduce heating cost � Cheap not best � � Irrigate � Reduce cooling cost Reduce cooling cost � � Weed control � Maintain fan efficiency Maintain fan efficiency � � White pines??? � Reduce airborne farm Reduce airborne farm- -to to- - � � Care??? farm disease spread farm disease spread
Surface Temperatures Surface Temperatures Temperatures in Sun vs Shade Temperatures in Sun vs Shade Around Houses Around Houses 30-40 F 91 F 149 F 20 F Temperature differential on E-W wooded farm compared to Influence of Woods on Broiler Influence of Woods on Broiler the E-W open farm. Production (USPEA Funding) Production (USPEA Funding) Average 9am to 4 pm Temperature Increase for Wooded Farm During Warm Weather Microclimate Fan Performance +2 F +7 F +3 F + 3 F + 5 F N W E S Implications of farms surrounded by dense woods: � Heat accumulation on S and W sides in warm weather � Although less wind chill in winter, may have colder � DMV Wind night time air temperatures � Avg = 5.5 mph Broiler Performance � Max. = 15 mph VEB to Reduce VEB to Reduce VEB to Reduce VEB to Reduce Backpressure on Fans Backpressure on Fans Backpressure on Fans Backpressure on Fans 15 mph = 15.5% VEB reduces wind � 15 mph = 15.5% � � VEB reduces wind � reduction in fan cfm directed toward fans & reduction in fan cfm directed toward fans & and 4.4% increase and 4.4% increase aids in maintaining fan aids in maintaining fan in amperage. in amperage. efficiency efficiency
VEB Design Considerations for Poultry Farms. VEB Design Considerations for Poultry Farms. Reduce Farm Reduce Farm- -to to- -Farm Air Farm Air- -Borne Borne Disease Transmission Disease Transmission LT spread on Delmarva (Johnson, et.al. 2001) LT spread on Delmarva (Johnson, et.al. 2001) � Distance from LT farm not as important as Distance from LT farm not as important as � direction of wind from that farm direction of wind from that farm N � Downwind farms 4x more likely to get LT Downwind farms 4x more likely to get LT � W E � N N- -S oriented houses 40% more likely to get LT S oriented houses 40% more likely to get LT � S Design Considerations: than E- -W houses W houses than E � Increase porosity (>spacing, deciduous trees, shrubs) � Conventional houses 3 Conventional houses 3 ½ ½ more likely to get LT more likely to get LT � on prevailing summer wind side of farms. than tunnel houses than tunnel houses � Increase density (<spacing, evergreens, multiple rows) VEB = 16% less aerobic bacteria aerosols on winter wind side and opposite fans VEB = 16% less aerobic bacteria aerosols Environmental Benefits Between Houses on Same Farm Environmental Benefits Between Houses on Same Farm � Reduce ammonia Reduce ammonia � � Reduce runoff Reduce runoff � Reduce groundwater nitrates � � Reduce groundwater nitrates � Convert CO Convert CO 2 2 to O to O 2 � 2 � Low cost program to Low cost program to partially partially address address � future air quality & emissions challenges future air quality & emissions challenges VEB Opposite Tunnel Fans VEB Opposite Tunnel Fans Test Site for Measuring Efficacy of Test Site for Measuring Efficacy of “Reduces “ Reduces” ” Dust (57%), Ammonia Dust (57%), Ammonia Vegetative Environment Buffers Vegetative Environment Buffers (55%) and Odor (27%) (55%) and Odor (27%) 30’ 8’ 10’ BC 16” X X LC 14” RC 8’ March 2002 2002-2007 data EPA/DNREC 319 funding 42 sample days
Impact of a Poultry Farm on Impact of a Poultry Farm on Wind direction and crop behind VEB Wind direction and crop behind VEB “appears appears” ” to influence odor reduction to influence odor reduction “ Nitrate- -N (8 N (8’ ’ wells) wells) Nitrate 3 Soybeans in 2002 & 2004 (~28%) Corn in 2003 & 2005 ( ~0%) 195 Litter Stockpile 71 15 � Need openness behind VEB � VEB near odor source more effective (50’vs200’) Water Quality at UD VEB Planting Nitrate- Nitrate -N (ppm) in Test Wells N (ppm) in Test Wells Water Quality at UD VEB Planting 12 7 1 1 5 5 3 3 6 -20% 10 -51% 5 8 4 6 3 4 2 2 1 4 4 6 6 2 2 0 0 UG VEB DG House DG VEB UG VEB DG House DG VEB Questionable data removed Questionable data removed Spring & Fall 2004 to 2007 All Well Data Neighbor Relations Neighbor Relations Benefits: Benefits: DMV Neighbor Relations Trends DMV Neighbor Relations Trends � Creates positive image Creates positive image � � Landscape appearance & Landscape appearance & � � Increasing number of nuisance complaints and Increasing number of nuisance complaints and � increase property value increase property value more stringent zoning ordinance. more stringent zoning ordinance. � � Blocks view of houses, waste Blocks view of houses, waste � ~ 40% complaints are dust/feathers, 40% odor ~ 40% complaints are dust/feathers, 40% odor � facilities and routine farm facilities and routine farm activities activities & 20% visual, noise, etc. & 20% visual, noise, etc. � Out � Out- -of of- -Sight Sight- -Out Out- -of Mind!! of Mind!! � Direction/location of tunnel ventilation a Direction/location of tunnel ventilation a � � Attractive farms have less odor Attractive farms have less odor � major issue. major issue. ( Mikesell, et. al., 2001) ( Mikesell, et. al., 2001) � Proactive industry neighbor policy with bmp Proactive industry neighbor policy with bmp’ ’s s � � Reduces odor, dust, feathers, Reduces odor, dust, feathers, � noise, etc. noise, etc. (includes VEB) (includes VEB)
Dust Dust Visual Visual VEB Challenges VEB Challenges � Poor soils � Moisture extremes � Marginal care/maintenance Odor Odor Economics Economics � Species resistant to ammonia emissions and particulate loading Compacted Subsoil!!! Compacted Subsoil!!! 90% Tree Mortality 90% Tree Mortality � Proper distance, tree Proper distance, tree � selection & design? selection & design? � High particulate High particulate � loading loading � Drought Drought � � Insects Insects � (Maintenance!!!!!!!) (Maintenance!!!!!!!) Moisture Stress Moisture Stress Maintenance and Care Maintenance and Care
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