Animal Feeding Operations
Overview
Animal feeding operations (AFOs) are agricultural entities that raise animals in confined areas. More specifically, AFOs are defined in the regulations implementing the Clean Water Act (CWA) as facilities, except aquatic animal production facilities, that confine and feed animals for 45 or more days per year and do not have sustained vegetation during the growing season over any portion of the facility. This overview focuses on environmental regulation and common law actions as they pertain to animal feeding operations. Read the full overview
Note: Recently added resources are posted at the top of the applicable sections.
Major Statutes
Regulations
40 C.F.R. pts. 122-123
40 C.F.R. §§ 412.1-412.47
40 C.F.R. §§ 302.1-302.8
40 C.F.R. §§ 355.10-355.50
Case Law
Note: Recently summarized cases are listed and linked in Recent Postings.
Administrative Law Decisions
Center Research Publications
Industries: Taking Stock of the Road Ahead (Pittman, 2005)
Congressional Research Service Reports
Animal Agriculture
Environmental Issues
Reference Resources
National Research Program: Animal Production and Protection
National Research Program: Natural Resources and Sustainable Agricultural Systems
Publication: Agricultural Phosphorus and Eutrophication (2003)
News & Events: Avian Influenza
Newsroom: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)
Newsroom: Avian Influenza
National Animal Identification System
Publications: Animal Health Report
National Emphasis Area: Animals and Animal Products
National Emphasis Area: Natural Resources & Environment
Programs: Manure & Nutrient Management
Key Topics: Key Topics: Animal Products
Key Topics: Natural Resources, Conservation, & Environment
Key Topics: Market Structure and Concentration
Briefing Room: Animal Production and Marketing Issues
Briefing Room: Aquaculture
Briefing Room: Cattle
Briefing Room: Hogs
Briefing Room: Poultry and Eggs
Briefing Room: Farm Structure
Briefing Room: Conservation & Environmental Policy
ERS Recommended Readings:
Agricultural Contracting Update: Contracts in 2003 (2006)
Managing Manure to Improve Air and Water Quality (2005)
Improving Air and Water Quality Can Be Two Sides of the Same Coin (2005)
Structural Change in the Meat, Poultry, Dairy, and Grain Processing Industries (2005)
Manure Management for Water Quality (2003)
Economic and Structural Relationships in U.S. Hog Production (2003)
Manure Management for Water Quality: Costs to Animal Feeding Operations of Applying
Animal Manure Nutrients to Land (2003)
The Changing Landscape of U.S. Milk Production (2002)
Confined Animal Production and Manure Nutrients (2001)
Change in U.S. Livestock Production, 1969-72 (1997)
Assessments of the Cattle and Hog Industries
Livestock and Animals
Technical Resources: Animal Feeding Operations
Technical Resources: Nutrient Management
Unified National Strategy for Animal Feeding Operations Cost Assessment
Agricultural Air Quality Task Force
AFO Virtual Information Center
National Agricultural Compliance Assistance Center (NACAC)
NACAC: Animal Feeding Operations
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Compliance Monitoring
National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit: Agriculture
NPDES: Animal Feeding Operations
Unified National Strategy for Animal Feeding Operations (EPA/USDA)
Animal Feeding Operations Air Agreement
EPA Topic: Water
EPA Topic: Animal Waste
Clean Water Act Information
Clean Air Act Information
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act Information
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Information
(Centers for Disease Control)
(U.S. Geological Survey)
from Pollutants of Concern (GAO-08-944)
(National Academies Press, 2003)
(Alabama Cooperative Extension Service)
8 A.L.R.6TH 465
Rules Help?, 13 PENN. ST. ENVTL. L. REV. 1 (2004)
Go Too Far?, 33 B.C. ENVTL.AFF. L. REV. 87 (2006)