Friday, May 23, 2003
COLUMBUS -- Large-scale livestock operations would be sorted into small, medium and large categories under a bill the Ohio House approved.
The bill, passed Tuesday by an 85 to 10 vote in the House, would also require only large livestock operations to seek permits to discharge manure into rivers.
The bill would require small and medium livestock operations to acquire permits only under certain circumstances.
Under state law, the state agriculture department inspects the larger-scale livestock operations.
Right now, farms must have 1,000 beef cattle, 2,500 hogs or 100,000 hens to be characterized as a "concentrated animal feeding operation" and made to seek a permit from the agriculture department.
Under the bill, which now must be considered by the Senate, large-scale livestock operations would be designated into the three categories: Farms that have 700 dairy cattle; 1,000 veal calves or other cattle; 2,500 swine; or 500 horses, according to a bill analysis.
Medium operations would be made up of farms that have between 200 and 699 dairy cattle; 300 to 999 veal calves or other cattle; 750 to 2,499 swine or 150 to 499 horses, the bill analysis said.
Operations would be deemed small if they don't meet requirements for the other two categories or if the state agriculture director so designates it, the analysis said.