CAFO
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations
WHAT IS A CAFO
CAFOs are defined as Confined Animal Feeding Operations. Typically these animal operations manage over 1,000 animal units in a small space. The equivalent of 1,000 animal units is 700 dairy cows; 1,000 cattle; 2,500 pigs; 82,000 laying hens; or 125,000 broiler chickens for example. However an operation can be considered a CAFO voluntarily or because they have a combination of animals that meets the animal unit threshold.
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Due to the quantity of animals on CAFOs an enormous amount of manure is produced and stored on or off site. The manure is the major contributor to the issues related to CAFOs. Take this virtual tour to see the difference between a small animal farm and a CAFO.
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WHAT HAPPENS ON A CAFO
CAFOs are where hundreds to thousands of animals are raised for slaughter. They are fed and grown in confinement in large barns until they reach the size required for processing (slaughter and meatpacking). In poultry and pig operations, the animals are kept indoors. Cattle operations often house the cows outside in pens. As a result of the large number of animals confined, there is a high volume of manure. Manure is useful as fertilizer, however the amount produced on these CAFOs is more than the surrounding land can absorb. This leads to storage of manure in lagoons on site or shipping manure offsite. It is the excess manure that leads to many of the human and environmental impacts of CAFOs.
WHO OPERATES A CAFO
Many CAFOs exist as contract agreements. Large companies that produce meat, such as Tyson, Smithfield or Perdue will make agreements with smaller farmers to run the operation. The corporation instructs the farmer (sometimes called a grower) on all procedures and equipment needed and supplies the animals. The farmer/grower is financially responsible for the land, equipment and structures, as well as handling of manure and dead animals. Once animals have reached their production size, the company pays the farmer/grower based on production and then they pick up the animals for transport to a finishing (slaughter) facility and then the cycle repeats itself. For more information watch the film Under Contract to learn more.
OUT TO PASTURE: THE FUTURE OF FARMING
John Hopkins Center for a Livable Future
This video provides a closer look at what a CAFO is and how they operate, with interviews from CAFO growers as well as farmers practicing in a different way.
REGULATION FAQ
See the Producer's Compliance Guide for CAFOs for more information
WHO REGULATES CAFOS?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for regulating pollution from CAFOs under the Clean Water Act. However, regulation mostly takes place at the state and local levels with enforcement that varies state to state. Based on research done by the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC), there is a significant gap in information, limited enforcement and there are likely hundreds, if not thousands, of farms not being regulated. CAFOs can apply for exemption if they can prove that they have no potential to discharge. This is limited mostly to CAFOs that are so far from natural bodies of water that run off could never reach them or if they transport all of their manure offsite. For more information about how farms are determined to be CAFOs, see the EPA's site here
WHAT ARE THE REGULATIONS?
CAFOs are required to apply for a permit under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. The intention is to set strict limits on how much wastewater and pollutants enter natural waterways such as streams, rivers or bays. The regulations are set by the permitting authority in each locale but are to apply the federal guidelines at a minimum which include there to be no discharge of any waste from the production area into U.S. waterways (effluent limitations) as well as specific land application restrictions and monitoring requirements. There could also be special conditions applied which could include things such as developing a nutrient waste management plan.
HOW ARE RULES ENFORCED
The regulations are enforced through inspections and through the reports/records kept that are submitted to the permitting authority. Inspections can be done by the EPA or the permitting authority based on a citizen complaint or tip; random selection or based on the states targeting method. The EPA encourages that CAFO owners take responsibility for their own compliance through self auditing. If a violation is found, the authority can respond in many ways including compliance assistance, compliance incentives or enforcement measures such as penalties, civil lawsuit, or criminal prosecution.
HOW DO I KNOW WHERE CAFOS ARE?
According to the NRDC's 2019 report, it is difficult to know where CAFOs are located due to inadequate data collection and storage by the EPA. This information should be able to be obtained since the NPDES application requires the name of owner; facility location; latitude and longitude of the production area; topographic map of the geographic area of location. Some national maps have been created but are not up to date. Visit your local environmental protection agency to locate CAFOs in your area. For example, Pennsylvania residents can go to the PA Department of Environmental Protection to view all CAFOs who have permits and submit reports.