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Missouri CAFO bill advances

The Missouri Senate has given initial approval to a bill that would limit Missouri counties from adopting regulations tougher than state regulations on concentrated animal feeding operations.

Jefferson City Republican Mike Bernskoetter says he wants to ban counties from restricting where CAFOs can be built by adopting harsher environmental rules, “Instead of having a hodge-podge of counties with different rules and ordinances, we’ll have a statewide agricultural policy.”

Opponents of the bill say local governments should be allowed to decide whether stricter requirements are warranted. About 20 Missouri counties have health ordinances for odors and downstream pollution from CAFOs.

Members of the Missouri Rural Crisis Center and others who oppose the CAFO bill, and two related bills, held a rally outside the Capitol on Monday.