Oklahoma’s board of agriculture will consider adopting setbacks and other emergency rules to address a proliferation of poultry feeding operations in the northeast part of the state that neighbors say are using up water supplies, according to local media reports.
The proposed rules, published on the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Food and Forestry’s website, would require new or expanding farms to be located at least ¼ mile from an occupied residence and ½ mile from a public school or incorporated city limit, the Muskogee Phoenix reported.
Board members are expected to consider the rules at a meeting next week in Oklahoma City, according to the report.
The Tulsa World reported that 207 new poultry houses were approved in eastern Oklahoma over the past 12 months. The farms support an expansion of a Simmons Foods processing facility in nearby Arkansas, the article said.
Last month, the state placed a moratorium on applications to build new poultry feeding operations to allow a special council time to consider the issues.
Source: meatingplace.com
