Chapter 19 - The benefits of planting trees around poultry farms

By George Malone and Dorothy Abbott-Donnelly, University of Delaware

Planting trees as a visual screen, vegetative filter and windbreak around poultry farms is another opportunity for poultry growers to demonstrate their continued commitment to voluntarily implement a program to be good neighbors and environmental stewards. The major benefits of trees around the perimeter of houses include:

• Fosters good neighbor relations
• Demonstrates proactive environmental stewardship
• Increases production efficiency

Increasing urban encroachment in many poultry producing areas will make maintaining good relations with neighbors even more of a challenge. Planting trees around poultry houses is a step toward creating a positive image for the poultry industry. As the trees mature, your farm takes on a more attractive landscaped appearance and creates an aesthetically pleasing view, while increasing property values, both for you and your neighbors. Given time, all aspects of your poultry operation will be obstructed from view (i.e., deliveries, live-haul crews, litter cleanout, etc.). The adage ‘out-of-sight, out-of-mind’ may well be a major advantage of providing a visual screen for poultry operations.

Another important aspect of trees is their ability to filter the odor, dust, feathers, and noise emitted from poultry operations. With urban encroachment, the likelihood of more odor – and noise-related complaints will increase. This is further exacerbated by the rapid adoption of tunnel ventilation, which concentrates the discharge from houses during summer. With increased ventilation during warm weather and more outdoor activities by the neighbors, summer is often the most sensitive time of year for nuisance-related neighbor complaints. If residential houses are in close proximity and downwind of tunnel exhaust fans, you may well have an explosive issue on your hands.

Trees provide a cost-effective, long-term means of reducing odor, dust, feathers, and noises associated with your daily operations. Trees can be highly effective in scrubbing odor-laden dust particles from exhaust fans.

Noise complaints are becoming more of a concern as we convert to tunnel ventilation and operate the larger fans for prolonged periods of time during warm weather. Trees can absorb and diffuse noises resulting in sound levels one-half the original volume. While planting trees around the perimeter of your farm is not a substitute for good management practices, this natural barrier will reduce nuisance complaints and foster better relationships with your neighbors.