CAFOs and the James River Basin

What are CAFOs?

CAFOs stands for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations. These agricultural operations are growing in number because feeding and growing animals in confinement is an efficient way to produce meat (or eggs). Animals are housed in buildings or on feedlots, with food brought in from the outside. This is in contrast to “free range” animals, which graze in pastures or find at least some natural foods on the land (e.g., chickens). Because of this concentration of animals, their wastes are also concentrated and must be disposed of or recycled on the land.

What risks do CAFOs present?

Animals raised in confinement are genetically similar. This makes them more susceptible to certain diseases, which can spread rapidly because of their close contact. For this reason, antibiotics are often given to animals therapeutically (to prevent, rather than to cure disease). Antibiotic resistant bacteria survive and can be passed into waste. If these wastes come into with humans contact the resistant organisms can produce untreatable infections.

The concentrated wastes produced by CAFOs can also present problems. If wastes are stored in a lagoon and flooding causes overtopping or dam failure, wastes are released into nearby waterways. Wastes treated by land application can leave the property in runoff (especially on frozen ground), percolate into groundwater (especially in cave country), or pollute the air in the form of dust. Also, concentrated wastes can create odor problems. Odors can cause nuisance conditions, and potentially health problems for CAFO workers or at nearby homes and communities.

Who regulates CAFOs?

In Missouri, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR). DNR attempts to prevent pollution of the air, land and water by enforcing regulations on potentially polluting entities, whether they are cities, industries, businesses or agricultural operations. Traditional agriculture, such as cattle grazing, is exempt from regulation, but when enough animals and their wastes are concentrated in CAFOs, state regulations do apply. (Note 1)

How are CAFOs regulated?

DNR regulations are based on the size of the CAFO, expressed as “Animal Units (AU).” One AU is defined as a beef cow, dairy heifer or cow/calf pair. AUs are used because different animals produce vastly different amounts of waste. For example, 300 cattle produce the same volume of waste per day as 8,400 people (Marshfield has 7,400 people). (Note 2) One AU (waste from one beef cow) is considered equivalent to the volume of waste from 2.5 swine, 125 broiler chickens, 0.7 dairy cows or 0.5 horses, (or 28 humans).

The largest CAFOs are 1A facilities, 7,000 AUs or larger—in other words, 7,000 beef cows, 3,500 horses, 17,500 large swine or 210,000 broilers. Most of the facilities in southwest Missouri are Class II or smaller, having less than 1,000 Animal Units. Facilities with less than 300 animal units (750 large swine or 9,000 broilers) are not regulated.

All CAFOs must be designed, constructed, operated and maintained as no-discharge—in other words, animal wastes may not leave the property. Liquid storage structures (lagoons or pits) must be able to contain all manure, litter or wastewater, plus the precipitation and runoff from “chronic weather events” and a “catastrophic storm.” Class I CAFOs (the largest) must also have odor control plans, maintain certain buffer distances from adjacent properties, and notify neighbors within a certain radius before beginning operations. All permitted CAFOs must have nutrient management plans that describe facilities for manure or litter storage, how contact of wastes with local waterways will be prevented, and describe measures for preventing problems from land applications of wastes. 

What are weaknesses in the CAFO regulations?

The biggest weakness is that specific regulations only apply to the largest CAFOs. Most of the CAFOs in southwest Missouri are Class II or smaller, which have little to no regulations on them. The wastes produced from these smaller CAFOs can still be significant. For example, a 750-animal hog operation produces about the same amount of waste as about 18,750 people (the city of Ozark has about 20,000 people). (Note 3)

Only the largest CAFOs (Class 1A) receive periodic inspections from DNR. All other CAFOs are “self-reporting,” so oversight of most CAFOs occurs only on a complaint basis.

Because design and construction processes are not scrutinized for most CAFOs, problems caused by the failures of lagoon dams during large rain events have been reported. There have also been widespread problems with odors, which are weakly regulated, if at all. In some areas, odor problems have caused numerous complaints from adjacent landowners and declines in property values.There is also a rising concern about health issues, especially with people working in or near CAFOs, with increases in asthma and other lung conditions reported. (Note 4)

What CAFOs are close to the Springfield Area?

There are only about a dozen CAFOs currently permitted within the James River Basin (see map). Most of these are Class II operations (medium-sized) poultry operations. The majority are located in Barry County in the headwaters of Flat Creek near Cassville. Three permitted CAFOs (poultry) are located in Stone County near Crane Creek.

There are about 25 permitted CAFOs (swine) in Vernon County, about 50 miles northwest of Springfield, and about a half-dozen in the Sac River watershed in Lawrence County, mostly poultry operations, about 25 miles from Springfield.

It should be remembered that these are only the DNR permitted facilities. There are many smaller CAFOs that are not permitted, and therefore don’t show up on the DNR map. Most of these are in the same general areas as the permitted facilities. However, there are several small CAFOs in other areas, such as small poultry or hog operations in the upper James River Basin in Webster County.

What is local control?

The ability of a local government, such as a county, to impose requirements or restrictions on CAFOs (or any other activity) is called Local Control. In the past, there was no roadblock for a local jurisdiction to impose rules on CAFOs that are above and beyond state requirements. For example, a county could impose a health ordinance that increased setback distances from a CAFO or waste lagoon from an adjacent property line or dwelling.

Recently, the state legislature in Missouri passed Senate Bill 391, which eliminated local control with respect to CAFOs. This measure is currently being challenged in court by a group of farmers and counties in Missouri. Proponents of local control argue that state regulations are not adequate to protect communities from the negative effects of CAFOs. They also suggest that a locality is in a better position to impose reasonable, locally tailored controls that better fit local situations. For example, the state requirements do not necessarily address problems that might occur due to management or land applications of waste in karst topography, with its sinkholes caves and springs.

Who should I contact if I have questions about CAFOs or want more information?

In southwest Missouri, call the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Regional Office at 417-891-4300. Non-profit organizations, such as the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, will also have information about CAFOs.

Are you concerned about a CAFO locating near you?

Call the Missouri Department of Natural Resources regional office (417-891-4300) to see if this will be a permitted facility. You may also contact your county commissioners, health department or local elected officials.

 References:

1.        Animal Feeding Operation Permits and Regulations in Missouri, Water Protection Program Fact Sheet, 08/2019, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, website https:/dnr.mo.gov/

2.        Phosphorus and the Environment, Setting the Record Straight: Comparing Bodily Waste between Diary Cows and People, June 21, 2017, Cornell University Publication, found at blogs.cornell.edu/whatscroppingup/2017/06/21

3.        J. P. Chastain, J. J. Camberto etal., Swine Production and Nutrient Content, Clemson University Publication, 1999, pdf found at researchgate.net.

4.        American Public Health Association Policy Statement, found at https://www.apha.org/policies-and-advocacy/public-health-policy-statements/policy-database/2014/07/24/11/17/precautionary-moratorium-on-new-concentrated-animal-feed-operations