Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
Sources of odour on your farm can include:
They can indicate that high levels of ammonia have been released into the atmosphere.
Animal husbandry is the largest source of ammonia releases to air in the UK. Slurry and manure are likely to release ammonia when they come into contact with air. Emissions of ammonia can:
The UK is required to reduce its ammonia emissions to meet air quality standards.
If odour from your farm is causing a nuisance to the surrounding community, your local council can limit or even stop you from working.
If you don't address an odour problem you could face legal action and a fine.
Noise, odour and other nuisances
The type of feed you use influences the odours your manure produces. You can use special products to reduce nitrogen excretions, and therefore odours, at all stages of livestock rearing.
Dust particles can carry odours. You should mix and mill foodstuffs such as whey and fish-meal, within a closed system.
How you minimise odour from slurry and manure will depend on the type of housing and collection system you have. You should:
The codes of good agricultural practice provide more information on how to minimise odours and gases.
In Northern Ireland, see section 11 of the DARD code of good agricultural practice for water, air and soil.
DAERA: Code of good agricultural practice for the prevention of pollution of water, air and soil
In Scotland, see section 13 of the Prevention of Environmental Pollution from Agricultural Activity (PEPFAA) Code.
Groundwater in Northern Ireland, DAERA have produced a leaflet to raise awareness about this untapped resource
EU Exit, EU Exit useful information
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