A new state-by-state audit funded by the United Soybean Board (USB) aims to support poultry and livestock farmers by helping them keep track of environmental rules and regulations. The 2012 Environmental Regulatory Audit of Animal Agriculture helps poultry and livestock farmers by providing information about water-quality regulations, air-quality regulations, discharge restrictions and general permitting information plus facts about state and federal environmental assistance programs.
USB commissioned the audit to help fellow farmers involved in animal agriculture wade through what can be a complicated web of regulatory language and restrictions. Having this information will not only assist these farmers with their own operations, but could help them improve relations with their communities and neighbors.
“This report needs to be read by soybean farmers and poultry and livestock farmers,” says Laura Foell, soybean farmer and USB director from Schaller, Iowa. “It’s important for us as soybean farmers to understand what the impacts of these environmental regulations are for the U.S. poultry and livestock sectors, who are our No. 1 consumers of soy meal.”
The report covers a number of topics, including federal regulations governing concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). At the state level, it addresses water-quality regulations, air-quality requirements, discharge restrictions and general permitting information.
The report indicates that a few states have yet to adopt the 2012 federal CAFO rules. It also says that state-based water quality regulations generally mirror federal requirements, although state regulations can reflect local conditions and concerns. Plus the report contains state-based references that highlight key environmental regulations in each state and factors that could limit the development of poultry and livestock operations.
The audit features quick reference tables that summarize regulations and assistance programs at the end of each state report. Click here to download the entire report and view state-specific information.
Supporting U.S. poultry and livestock farmers remains a top priority for the soy checkoff. U.S. poultry and livestock represent the No. 1 customer for U.S. soybean farmers, consuming nearly all the soybean meal used domestically.
“Regulations for poultry and livestock farmers are changing, and this audit helps us to see that,” adds Foell.
The 69 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy’s customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.
Source: Unitedsoybean.org