While the potential for pit foaming to lead to flash fires, explosions and even deaths exists all-year round, researchers say this time of year presents the greatest challenges for pork producers and site managers.

"We’re just getting into the real foaming season," said Daniel Andersen, assistant professor of agriculture and biosystems engineering at Iowa State University (ISU). "The manure’s the warmest right now; the pits are the fullest. So it’s just a bigger ...