Cheonan and Asan Cities Struggle with Livestock Manure Odor Complaints

Asan City Faces Mass Complaints Over Manure Dumping on Farmland
Cheonan City Reports Majority of Annual 250 Odor Complaints Linked to Livestock Farms

Mayor Park Kyung-gwi of Asan visited the farmland in Deokji-ri, Eumbong-myeon, which was the subject of a complaint on the 8th, and ordered an immediate resolution of the issue.

As complaints about foul odors caused by livestock manure continue in Cheonan and Asan, Chungnam Province, local governments have begun to take measures.

Recently, Asan City received collective complaints about odors in the Deokji-ri area of Eumbong-myeon. Residents living in local apartments expressed distress, saying they could not open their windows due to the smell.

According to the city’s investigation, the odor was found to be caused by 160 tons of poultry manure spread on nearby farmland. It was reported that the manure was applied to cultivate feed corn at a Korean beef and deer farm.

Initially, these farms claimed the manure was compost, but the Agricultural Technology Center’s analysis judged the maturity level as “unsuitable.”

On the 8th, Asan Mayor Park Kyung-gwi visited the site in person and ordered immediate problem resolution. The city took temporary measures by spreading 10 tons of microorganisms to reduce the odor and covering the manure with plastic sheets.

The city plans to issue an order to restore the farmland where the manure was spread to its original state. Additionally, a joint investigation by related departments will be conducted on those who spread and discharged livestock manure, and legal action will be taken if any violations are found.

Mayor Park said, “We will advance the timing of the restoration order as much as possible to start before late June, prior to the start of the rainy season. Going forward, we will systemically improve regulations so that the maturity of livestock manure is checked in advance when it is transported in quantities above a certain scale, and prior notification is required when spreading it on farmland.”

Cheonan City also suffers from about 250 odor complaints annually, with 66% of them originating from livestock farms.

In particular, the odor from a pigsty near the Independence Hall, the venue of the recently concluded K-Culture Expo last month, was pointed out as a blemish on the event.

In response, the Cheonan City Council launched a research group on “Livestock Odor Reduction and Organic Fertilization of Livestock Manure” and began policy research services on the 11th.

The research group plans to share the data derived from this policy research with Cheonan City and carry out various activities aimed at minimizing odor damage through improving the livestock environment and increasing livestock farmers’ income by converting manure into organic fertilizer.

Cheonan City Council launched a research group on "Livestock Odor Reduction and Livestock Manure Organic Fertilizer Conversion" and began policy research services on the 11th.