Two months after the first report of an odor coming from a Sharpsville dairy plant, neighbors continue to smell a foul odor. Ally Ross has more information on what Dairy Farmers of America is doing to mitigate the smell.
Two months after 21 News first reported on a foul odor coming from the Dean’s Dairy plant in Sharpsville, neighbors say it hasn’t gotten any better.
A sign outside the Dean’s Dairy plant in Sharpsville, Pennsylvania. April 27, 2026.
“It’s almost like something is rotting,” said Chelsea Bailey, who lives next to the plant. “It’s not a normal smell you would get from a farm, like manure.”
The facility — located in South Pymatuning Township, which is inside the borough of Sharpsville — is a milk processing plant, not a dairy farm.
When our crews visited the area Monday afternoon to speak with residents, the smell was not noticeable. People told us it is worst in the early mornings and evenings, especially depending on the direction of the wind.
“My four-year-old would hate coming outside in the morning because he would smell it,” Bailey said. “And then in the evening … around dinner time, when you want to be outside in your backyard, and you really can’t be.”
Cows graze nearby the Dean’s Dairy plant in Sharpsville, Pennsylvania. April 27, 2026.
In February, Dairy Farmers of America told 21 News the smell was coming from a wastewater treatment facility on site, and that frozen equipment was making it stronger than usual. In a new statement Monday, DFA said it “is committed to being a good neighbor in the Sharpsville community.”
“We take these concerns seriously and are actively working to address the issue,” the statement read. “New odor-control equipment was ordered that will be installed to help reduce odors and minimize impact on the surrounding community.”
For residents, that solution cannot come fast enough, as temperatures begin to rise.
“During the summer, it’s especially bad because of the heat,” said Bruce Ottenwalder, who lives across the street. “If they don’t get it fixed, it’s going to make for a pretty crappy summer.”