FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — If you’ve noticed a bad smell lately when you step outside, your nose isn’t playing tricks on you.
There’s a good chance what you smell is actually manure-based fertilizer and although you may not appreciate the scent, you might appreciate the benefits.
September and November are typically the busiest months for farmers because of harvest season. Farmers fertilize their crops to increase higher yields and better-quality produce.
Previously the most common types of fertilizer used were salt-based solutions mined mainly from Russia, China and other countries.
With the recent conflict in Ukraine, shipments have been harder to get here in the states which is forcing many farmers to explore other options.
Darin Hadley, a local farmer in Woodburn says “…we’re going to see more folks consider the option of organic fertilizer whether it is to try and become net zero for carbon usage or whether it’s to try and become certified to produce organic or natural food products for folks to be able to have.”
A big reason is that consumers are seeking out organic produce, but it comes at a smellier cost.
Hadley also says that weather plays a key factor in breaking down the fertilizer and the warmer temperatures we’ve been seeing this fall coupled with breezier winds, could explain why that smell has been so pungent even miles away from the nearest farm.
So next time you step outside and there’s a stench, just think about all the fresh produce you’ll be enjoying next season.
Some odours arise from the spreading of sewage sludge. Organic manure by its very nature can be odorous and odour is the main cause of complaints from members of the public.
So next time you step outside and there’s a stench, just think about all the fresh produce you’ll be enjoying next season.
Darin Hadley, a local farmer in Woodburn says “…we’re going to see more folks consider the option of organic fertilizer whether it is to try and become net zero for carbon usage or whether it’s to try and become certified to produce organic or natural food products for folks to be able to have.”
With the recent conflict in Ukraine, shipments have been harder to get here in the states which is forcing many farmers to explore other options.
Hadley also says that weather plays a key factor in breaking down the fertilizer and the warmer temperatures we’ve been seeing this fall coupled with breezier winds, could explain why that smell has been so pungent even miles away from the nearest farm.
There’s a good chance what you smell is actually manure-based fertilizer and although you may not appreciate the scent, you might appreciate the benefits.
Its always disconcerting to step outside on a sunny day, take a deep whiff of air, and realize … it smells like manure outside. Youre not hallucinating: whether you live near farmlands or not, there are several reasons why the air might smell like poop, even in 2023. Theres no need to be concerned (yet); heres the inside scoop on the natural phenomena behind stinky air.
The New York State Department of Health says, “Odor is not a reliable way to determine the risk of health effects. For some chemicals, odors will be noticeable at low concentrations where the risk for health effects is also very low. For others, such as carbon monoxide, there is no odor at any concentration and no warning when people are exposed to dangerous levels.”
A temperature inversion is a phenomenon where the air at the surface is cooler than air higher in the atmosphere. When the warm air works as a lid for the cooler air, trapping smells can cause smog, pollution, or odors from nearby farms to surface — and ruin your day.AdvertisementMore from Green Matters
In September 2023, the smell of garbage was so bad that residents of Buffalo, New York, called for action from their local officials, who then reached out to the Department of Environmental Conservation to investigate the mysterious odor, as per WIVB News 4. At the time, many residents suspected the smell came from Geiter Done Green Waste nearby.Article continues below advertisement
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FAQ
Why does it smell like manure outside?
Why does the air smell weird outside?
What is that farm smell?
Why does being outside have a smell?
Do you smell a farm?
“If people see a farm, they smell a farm.” Brandt has researched and helped teach farmers to use an odor-reducting technique called shallow-disk injection. It’s a bit like no-till farming.
Are odors a part of farming?
Among them are many of the usual suspects of the odor world, including ammonia, hydrogen sulfide (think rotten eggs), and something called “cadaverine,” which (you guessed it) smells of rotting flesh. A lot of farmers contend that odors are simply part of farming – end of story.
Why does my garden smell like a Petrichor?
Weather seems to play a big part in the outdoor smell, presumably because its stirs up or releases all the volatile organic compounds out there. Geosmin, for example is a by-product of soil bacteria that gets released during rainfall and creates that beautifully earthy “petrichor” smell.
Are agricultural odors a problem?
Klein is one of a growing number of rural and suburban residents who consider agricultural odors a problem – or, to use an oft-invoked legal term, “a nuisance.” The issue is driving new science and techniques aimed at taming the most eye-watering emanations.