West Penn Township supervisors often hear complaints from residents who are tired of smelling manure.

In hopes of helping those residents, the board invited Shelly Dehoff from the Lancaster County Conservation District to a recent meeting.

Supervisor Tim Houser explained to Dehoff that some farming businesses purchase chicken manure in large quantities and dump it on their fields until they can use it.

Houser said he had “no problem” with farmers using the manure but said if it isn’t used right away, it begins to smell.

“We have a few residents who have been putting up with the smell longer than they should be,” he said.

Years ago, he said, farmers were required to till the material into their fields within a certain amount of time.

“But with no-till farming, they’re not tilling it into the ground anymore,” Houser said.

He asked Dehoff if the township can require farmers to tarp the manure until they can use it.

Dehoff, an agricultural ombudsman who serves the eastern part of the commonwealth, explained that the state Nutrient Management Act regulates odors, flies and more.

The act allows farmers to pile uncovered manure for up to 120 days.

“Technically if it exceeds day 121, you should have it tarped or covered,” Dehoff said.

The act doesn’t limit the amount of time the manure can be stored, she said.

Resident Brian McMullen said he bought his home in the township more than four decades ago.

“I knew that if I bought land next to a farmer, I’d have to deal with that (manure smell) twice a year when they spread it,” he said. “But chicken manure has become the new thing and they’re letting it there.”

He called the odor “horrendous.”

“You told us about the farmers’ rights, but what about my right to enjoy my own property?,” he asked.

Another resident said he lives next to an out-of-area farmer who stockpiles 600 tons of manure on nearby land.

“He doesn’t have to deal with it. He lives 20 miles away,” the resident said.

Houser said it’s not the township’s “family farmers” who are contributing to the stinky problem, but the larger agribusinesses.

He also said it’s unfortunate that the state makes the rules because it is the township that has to deal with the fallout.

Solicitor Paul Datte asked Dehoff if she is aware of any municipality that legally enforces an ordinance regarding manure storage, despite the state law.

Dehoff said it’s difficult for any municipality to develop a legally enforceable ordinance because of the state law.

She said she has seen success from meetings among community members, agribusiness owners and elected officials.