The event made him realize livestock waste is a national problem and it cuts across species. I want regulations that are fair to all sizes of operations and across all livestock sectors. The federal government's responsibility is to provide for national environmental standards, Harkin said. Whatever structure can live within that regime we will let the economics determine that. But we won't let the structures determine what we live with environmentally.
General opinion is that big livestock operators are currently setting environmental standards.
Industry experts have accused large operators of intentionally expanding in states with loose environmental standards. They move because of cheap feed grains and other factors. At least one state has attempted to address livestock waste management issues recently. Maryland last week passed a new regulation setting mandatory limits on the use of fertilizers. If states want to be tougher than our national standards then we can't stop them, but we need national standards.