Hog Odors Raise a Stink
For those people living in rural areas, the smells associated with hogs, cows, etc. can be a nuisance. Usually most people grin and bear it, however, there are many times when they try to do something about it.
The High Plains Midwest Ag Journal recently reported on a civil trial filed in Kansas City regarding the hog odors from a large commercial hog operation about 80 miles north of Kansas City. This operation usually contains about 80,000 head of hogs and encompasses over 2,000 acres. Fourteen rural neighbors had already received $100,000 apiece from a 1999 lawsuit, however, they have taken Premium Standard Farms back to court arguing that these payments are not enough to compensate them for the continuing odors.
The company argues that they are not suffering “substantial impairment” from the odors. They agree that hogs stink, but it does not meet the qualifications of a nuisance under the law.
Kansas City attorney Charlie Speer has won over $10 million from Premium Standard and its affiliates since 1999 on these types of cases. In 2009, he indicated a lawsuit that was settled for $1.2 million will “set the bar” for future cases.
PSF attorneys contend these lawsuits are driven only by money and are causing damage to the local ag economy.
I believe that both sides have some merit to their cases. These smells can be overpowering when you have that many animals in a small area, however, most people living in farm country usually know this when they move there. I think, however, that these large operators sometimes believe it is cheaper to just settle the lawsuits than to try to fix the problem which can cost substantially more.
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