BEATRICE – When northern Gage County residents learned of a concentrated animal feeding operation coming to near Pickrell and Adams, they were told the hog operation’s odor wouldn’t be a problem beyond a few days each year.


That hasn’t panned out, according to one resident who lives within a mile of the operation run by Summit Pork.


"It's there every day...whether you're two miles away...you can smell it. It definitely depends on the time of the day. The vents are going all the time. The incinerator goes most of the time...and there's definitely a difference in smell between the two."


The operation was granted a permit after public hearings by the Gage County Planning Commission and County Board. A second, similar permit application for a CAFO near Liberty, was rejected by the county.  Marcella Rademacher handed out information to Gage County Supervisors regarding the odor and when it occurs. Rademacher says it’s noticeable as much as two miles away.  "This is north of this facility, and we're talking winter. What are we going to do in the summer time, when we supposedly have southwest winds?"


Incinerators are used to dispose of dead pig carcasses. Rademacher cited one family who smells the operation all the time, with the odor coming into their house.  "When they said ten days a year, that we probably would smell it...I mean, we have thirteen from my house...and she said they've had it at least twenty, out of the thirty days."


Rademacher says she’s spoken with the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, which has sent an inspector to check on incineration operations.
"I don't look forward to this summer....but I hope and I know Summit has been called about it."  Rademacher says the odor is persistent and will affect her home value.  "The value of my place has just plummeted. Who in their right mind would want to buy a place that you smell hogs twenty days out of the month....even in the wintertime?"


Possible solutions mentioned were a filtering system or rearranging where fans at the operation are directed. County Board Chairman Erich Tiemann said the county is still discussing the situation, but doesn’t have answers, right now.