Livestock Development and Water Quality

Are there state regulations that farmers must follow when building or operating a large livestock confinement facility and applying manure?Large livestock confinement facilities in South Dakota must have a state water pollution control permit to operate.This permit establishes the minimum environmental standards for livestock operations defined as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) to ensure protection of the state's surface and ground waters.An operation is considered large if it has a capacity of at least 700 dairy cows, 1,000 feeder cattle, 2,500 feeder pigs, or equivalent numbers of other animals.Smaller operations may also be regulated if they are posing a pollution hazard to waters of the state.The South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources is responsible for developing and enforcing the state permit for livestock operations.