Cortland community demands tree wall to stop the stink from expanded poultry farm

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – One poultry facility is expanding its operations in Gage County, but the surrounding community has many concerns about the odors that will accompany the expansion.

Emily Haxby is the VP supervisor for Gage County and a fifth-generation farmer.

She says odors go hand in hand with raising livestock; however, scientific studies also show that tree-lined barriers can reduce odors by up to 16%.

“I think planting trees as a shelter belt is a minimal cost, minimal responsibility for something that we can do, that has a great impact on the community,” said Haxby.

She says that although such barriers are not mandated in Gage County like they are in Lancaster County, the community wants one up.

Haxby adds that putting one up could help the future of farming, adding that being a good neighbor is part of farming values.

“I like to see people trying to be that respectable person, that good neighbor, because it really does make that next applicant that comes in a little bit easier,” she said.

“Because people who have a good experience then talk to their neighbor about it and it travels better that way.”

Ash Road Poultry LLC currently raises free-range chickens for the company Smart Chickens.

They have 10 barns up already at the corner of South 38th Street and Ash Road, and plan to add eight more.

With an approved permit, they should be good to go, but the community says they’re forgetting one thing: barriers between the chicken smells and the facilities’ neighbors.

Brad Baehr lives less than a mile from their operations, having moved to the area because he enjoys country living.

Such as the breeze brought to his property by the South winds during spring and summer, but he says that the appeal is diminishing.

“2-3 weeks ago, my wife and I had to wake up at 2:15 in the morning and shut our windows because the smell was so bad,” said Baehr.

He also says that the odor from the existing poultry farms is one thing, but with more to come, it’ll be too much to handle without a barrier.

Noting that his property value will decrease as well.

“Who wants to buy a property that has a smell all the time, from chicken houses and 18 barns,” said Baehr.

Roy Mulder is the farmer and livestock producer who owns the poultry facilities in that area.

He says he learned of the community’s concerns at town meetings, but they haven’t affected his decision to create the tree barrier.

“We don’t want to do anything that encourages predators that would kill the chickens. They have no defense mechanisms other than to sit down and wait for it to happen,” said Mulder.

Haxby says walls would help combat this, but Mulder says this.

“We fence our range areas to keep them out, but it doesn’t prevent them from an aerial attack.”

Another major concern the community has over the expansion is water usage.

Baehr says he has noticed that the current poultry barns have affected his own water flow, citing his backyard ponds.

Mulder’s response to that concern is that additional trees may use even more water.

As this story develops, we will keep you updated.