Hog giant Premium Standard Farms says technology not yet ready as deadline nears to cut smell

Hog giant PSF nearing deadline for reducing smell

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Hog processing giant Premium Standard Farms has spent $40 million to develop technology to reduce the smell from its hog farms in Missouri but still hasn’t met a court-imposed deadline for doing so.

If Premium Standard doesn’t implement the technology and fix the problem by July 31, it could be sued by the state.

The company says it had difficulty developing the technology and is still two years away from getting the system in place. Premium Standard President Bill Homann says people need to understand that fixing the problem takes time.

Premium Standard was supposed to have technology in place in 2004 but it received an extension. It’s unclear whether it will get another one. A spokeswoman for Attorney General Chris Koster says July 31 remains his target date for a resolution.