In recent years, economic conditions have favored development of larger-scale animal operations 5 . Large operations have the potential to create large problems. As farms have grown, so too have suburbs, reaching out from cities into farming areas, bringing residents in closer contact with large-scale animal operations. Together these trends have increased public concerns about pollution and odors from animal wastes. Regulatory Challenges Compliance efforts in agricultural settings face special challenges.
Some challenges are institutional.
Government s traditional role with agriculture has emphasized assistance and subsidy rather than regulation. This affects the attitudes of both farmers and officials. Farmers expect assistance and some resent regulation. Agricultural officials may see themselves as allies of farmers and may be uncomfortable in regulatory roles. In contrast, environmental officials are generally used to dealing with regulated facilities at arm s length.