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MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATION NO. 10G5, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



organic wastes to inert materials. This latter situ- 

 ation produces what is called a septic condition, 

 and the water takes on the dark-colored, evil- 

 appearing, vile-smelling character of grossly pol- 

 luted water. 



Agricultural and forestry activities involving 

 use of water for fishing or recreation cannot tol- 

 erate waters having organic wastes that have not 

 been fully assimilated by action of aerobic bac- 

 teria. Since recreational use of water in association 

 with agriculture and forestry has become an ac- 

 tivity involving expenditures of hundreds of 

 millions of dollars, water polluted from anaerobic 

 decompositions of organic wastes may have seri- 

 ous economic consequences on such activities. 



Water that is polluted in any way or shows the 

 effects of additions of organic wastes that have 

 not been fully assimilated by aerobic decompo- 

 sition cannot be used on the farmstead. Agricul- 

 ture faces serious limitations on use of water for 

 irrigation on crops used for food, if that water is 

 polluted with unassimilated wastes. 



Accumulations of putrescible wastes may hurt 

 agriculture in other ways than by entering into 

 water supplies. Manure heaps, piles of crop resi- 

 dues, and accumulations of food-processing wastes 

 usually emit pungent aromas that are offensive. 

 Along with the stench, piles of animal wastes can 

 be tremendous spawning grounds for flies and 

 other vermin that pester livestock as well as 

 people. Large sums are spent each year on insecti- 

 cides to control pest production around manure 

 piles. 



As suburban people move into agricultural 

 areas, they protest against accumulations that give 

 off foul odors. When the protests are legally sus- 

 tained, agricultural people may have to pay a high 

 price to meet imposed restrictions. 



Within the last 6 years, 43 California dairy 

 farms having a total of about 12,000 cows have 

 had to relocate from the Los Angeles area to the 

 Bakersfield area, a distance of about 80 to 100 

 miles, because of their "noncompatibility" with 

 activities of the expanding Los Angeles metro- 

 politan area. Provision of new facilities for these 

 dairies averaged about $112,000 each, of which 

 $35,000 to $42,000 was for constructing milking 

 facilities. The total relocation cost within this one 

 county for the milking facility portion of these 

 enterprises alone is over $1.6 million. Such reloca- 



tions have occurred in several other areas and 

 States and the problem will probably increase. 

 These relocations apply to all classes of livestock. 

 The costs to agriculture are high. 



Lawsuits are pending in Milf ord, Tex., pertain- 

 ing to a 27,000-head beef cattle feedlot located 

 well out in the country. The owners had purchased 

 land to provide what they thought to be an ade- 

 quate buffer zone between themselves and the other 

 rural residents. The feedlot operators recently had 

 11 damage suits, averaging about $15,000 each, 

 filed against them. Four have been settled, with 

 the court allowing claims ranging from $2,500 to 

 $7,500. One claim, for death of cattle, was denied 

 primarily because the claimant had failed to have 

 a veterinarian determine the cause of death of 

 cattle downstream from the feedlot. The other 

 claims are still in litigation. Odor nuisance, dust, 

 insects, water pollution, and noise are among the 

 grievances alleged. 



Coping with manure accumulations can cost 

 money. Farmers are suffering from damage suits 

 and are having to make costly changes. 



In Sullivan County, N.Y., poultry and tourist 

 industries have conflicting interests. In one in- 

 stance, the State supreme court issued a temporary 

 injunction against a large poultry producer re- 

 straining him from allowing noxious odors to per- 

 meate the air of two adjoining resorts pending the 

 outcome of a $125,000 lawsuit against the producer. 

 The injunction was issued in spite of the fact 

 that the poultry industry represents a large part of 

 the county's income. These poultrymen have re- 

 ceived a rough blow. Other damage actions have 

 been filed, but it may take years for courts to de- 

 cide and the decision will not solve the problem. 



Removal from animal quarters, transport, and, 

 where feasible, spreading of animal waste on land 

 represent a significant item in the cost of produc- 

 tion. A 1961 Michigan study indicated that beef 

 feedlot operators spend $3.43 per head marketed 

 and dairymen $9.29 per head for waste removal 

 and spreading. An Illinois study indicated that 

 annual operating costs were $0.62 to $1.28 per hog. 

 A million-bird laying operation in Mississippi es- 

 timates the annual waste handling costs at $100,- 

 000, or $0.10 per bird. A Maryland egg farm with 

 automated cage operations spends about $0.12 per 

 dozen of eggs. Other operators of egg farms have 

 reported costs more than double this amount. East- 



