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Ohio Livestock Coalition publishes state regulations in one place

Compiled by Susie Taylor

To help develop a better understanding of the types of regulations, permits and plans that may be required of livestock farms, the Ohio Livestock Coalition (OLC) has developed "Guidelines for Livestock Operations."

The publication contains information pertaining to water resources, livestock programs, regulatory authority, financial assistance programs, strategies and tips, federal and state incentives, resource concerns, contact information and industry terminology.

"As livestock, dairy and poultry farms continue to grow and change, farmers, neighbors, local officials, the media and other interested parties and stakeholders often have many questions and concerns that need to be addressed," according to David White, OLC executive director.

"Clean water is important to every Ohioan, and because ground water and the water in nearby streams can be affected by nutrients applied to the soil, it’s important that everyone understand the vital role livestock production practices play in keeping water clean," he said.

A similar booklet, "Guidelines for Livestock Producers," was originally developed in 1995. It served as the foundation for creating the new publication, which reflects four major changes that have occurred during the past eight years:

The passage of Ohio Senate Bill 141 in December 2000.

The subsequent transfer of most of the regulatory and permitting authority for large livestock farms from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) in August 2002.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new rules for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations that became effective in April 2003. (See related story on page two.)

The passage of Ohio House Bill 152 in August 2003.

"Guidelines for Livestock Operations" was developed by OLC in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Soil & Water Conservation, Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Livestock Environmental Permitting Program, Ohio EPA Division of Surface Water, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and Ohio State University Extension. To get a copy of "Guidelines for Livestock Operations" log onto Ohio Farm Bureau’s Web site at www.ofbf.org and click on Featured Links, or contact the OLC office at dwhite@ofbf.org or 614-246-8288.