BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Many smaller-scale livestock producers have heard the term CAFO, an acronym for confined animal feeding operation, used in negative connotation by environmental and animal activists, and wondered whether their farm might be considered one.

 

A new, free resource guide from the Illinois Agricultural Coalition (IAC) helps to demystify the issue of CAFO classification so farmers can determine if they are in compliance with current Illinois EPA livestock rules, which became effective in August 2014.

“The fact is that Illinois livestock farmers are subject to inspections at any time by Illinois EPA and, if found not in compliance with these rules, can be issued substantial fines and penalties,” said Lauren Lurkins, director of natural and environmental resources for the Illinois Farm Bureau, which established the IAC along with the Illinois Beef Assoc., Illinois Pork Producers Assoc. (IPPA) and Illinois Milk Producers Assoc.

 

“All livestock farmers regardless of their size have an obligation to optimize their environmental performance, and this resource guide can help achieve that.”

The booklet, which is available to producers by contacting any of the member organizations, is available in swine, beef and dairy versions. In addition to helping farmers determine if their livestock barns might be considered CAFOs, the resource guide was created primarily to help clarify and simplify Illinois EPA rules and identify best management practices for all animal feeding operations (AFOs).

“This is not something we just started today; it’s actually a continuation of the work that all of our groups have been doing for a number of years,” Lurkins said of the IAC’s development. “We all worked together when there was a rulemaking before the Illinois Pollution Control Board. 

 

“Around 10 years ago Illinois EPA began working on their program as it relates to livestock farms in the state. There was a back and forth at the federal level about what is a CAFO and how are they regulated under the Clean Water Act. After that volley back and forth at the federal level, we ended up with a need for an Illinois program to match the federal program.

“This was something we went about as an industry, working with agencies and environmental groups for a number of years. As a result of that, we now have rules in our state that are equivalent to the federal rules, as to environmental protection from livestock farms,” she added.

An education program was undertaken by the membership of the IAC, which Lurkins describes as an “informal” alliance of state ag groups with common interests. Around 2,000 farmers were anonymously polled for input that contributed heavily to the content within the guide, titled Swine Resource Guide for the Illinois EPA Livestock Rules.

“The work was a long time coming. The goal was to take these rules, which are not easy to read and understand, and to make them a little easier to read and understand from a farmer perspective,” Lurkins said. 

 

The IPPA posted a summary of CAFO criteria on its website stating that most situations in which pigs are raised will likely be classified as an AFO. The state defines varying levels of CAFOs, including large swine CAFOs that must have 2,500 swine weighing 55 pounds or more, or 10,000 or more swine weighing less than 55 pounds, located on a single site.

 

To find out where your animal feeding operation stands with the Illinois EPA, ask for your free resource guide from an IAC member association.