Existing federal and state laws restrict where livestock farms can locate and how they must operate.  In addition to federal law, there are more than 300 pages of state livestock specific statutes and regulations.

 All livestock farms are regulated, but the amount of regulation builds as the size of the operation increases.

Setback distance requirement

All livestock farms, including small animal feeding operations, are required to meet setback distances from wells, streams, rivers, lakes, designated wetlands, ag drainage wells and sinkholes to protect water quality. Combined, these water setback distances prohibit the siting of any size livestock barn or manure storage on 31.5 percent of the state’s land. Manure application is also restricted within 200 feet of these...