By Alison Murtagh
Houff Corp. applied for a permit from the state’s Department of Environmental Quality to apply fertilizer, made from biosolids and other organic materials, to over 850 acres in Rockbridge County. The company takes biosolids and industrial residuals from local facilities and turns it into a cost-effective fertilizer that makes soils healthy. However, some residents are concerned about the odor of the fertilizer and its long-term effects.