![[logo] US EPA](https://swap.stanford.edu/was/20151211033644im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
What is a CAFO?
Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs) are agricultural operations where animals are kept and raised in confined situations. AFOs congregate animals, feed, manure and urine, dead animals, and production operations on a small land area. Feed is brought to the animals rather than the animals grazing or otherwise seeking feed in pastures, fields, or on rangeland.
Your operation is an AFO if:
- You confine animals for at least 45 days in a 12-month period, and
- There's no grass or other vegetation in the confinement area during the normal growing season
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) are AFOs that meet certain EPA criteria. CAFOs make up approximately 15 percent of total AFOs.
Your operation is a CAFO if:
- It meets the definition of an AFO, and
- The operation meets one of the Regulatory Definitions of Large CAFOs, Medium CAFOs, and Small CAFOs (1 pg, 22K, About PDF)
Related Links
Correspondence to Congressional Delegations
- Letter to Sen. Mike Johanns, Aug. 1, 2012 (PDF) (2 pp, 219K, About PDF)
- Letter to Rep. Adrian Smith, Aug. 1, 2012 (PDF) (2 pp, 213K, About PDF)
- Letter to Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, Aug. 1, 2012 (PDF) (2 pp, 213K, About PDF)
- Letter to Sen. Mike Johanns, June 11, 2012 (PDF) (6 pp, 220K, About PDF)
- Letter to Sen. Ben Nelson, June 11, 2012 (PDF) (6 pp, 227K, About PDF)
- Letter to Rep. Adrian Smith, June 11, 2012 (PDF) (6 pp, 229K, About PDF)
- Letter to Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, June 11, 2012 (PDF) (6 pp, 230K, About PDF)
- Letter to Rep. Lee Terry, June 11, 2012 (PDF) (6 pp, 226K, About PDF)
- Follow-up Letters to Nebraska Delegation, June 13, 2012 (PDF) (5 pp, 600K, About PDF)
- Letter to Rep. Tom Latham, June 21, 2012 (PDF) (7 pp, 1.2MB, About PDF)
- Letter to Rep. Todd Akin, June 27, 2012 (PDF) (5 pp, 1.3MB, About PDF)
Public Informational Meeting Presentation, Aug. 30, 2012
- EPA Region 7 AFO/CAFO Inspection Program - Stephen Pollard, AFO/CAFO enforcement coordinator (PDF) (41 pp, 6.7MB, About PDF)
Public Informational Meeting Presentations, July 2, 2012
- EPA Region 7 AFO/CAFO Inspection Program - Stephen Pollard, AFO/CAFO enforcement coordinator (PDF) (37 pp, 1.9MB, About PDF)
- EPA CAFO Inspections: What to Expect When the EPA Visits Your Business - Trevor Urban, senior CAFO inspector (PDF) (26 pp, 3.2MB, About PDF)
Persons who have questions about the regulations or the outreach efforts can call EPA Region 7 toll-free at 800-223-0425, or send an email to r7actionline@epa.gov. Please include the term "CAFO" in the subject line of your email inquiry.
