Frequently Asked Questions

What is a factory farm, and how many chickens will be at this proposed site?

This proposed factory farm would have 45,000-layer chickens.

Factory farming is a form of intensive agriculture designed to maximize profits using as few resources as possible. On factory farms, large numbers of animals are confined in small spaces, which often means keeping animals indoors for the duration of their lives.

Intensive agriculture stands in contrast to extensive agriculture, which is what you probably think of when you imagine a small family farm. Extensive agriculture uses fewer inputs, such as human labor and basic machinery like tractors, and takes advantage of the soil’s natural fertility. For animal raising, an example of extensive agriculture is pastoral production, in which animals are grazed outdoors for their entire lives or herded by nomadic farmers.

Has an appeal been filed?

Yes, 42 appellants living within 1/2 mile of the proposed site filed the appeal on June 19, 2023.

What happens next in the appeal process?

We will hear if the appeal requested was granted by July 3, 2023. We will update this site as soon as we hear.

You can read about the full appeal process here (starting on page 29): https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/-/media/Project/Websites/mdard/documents/environment/rtf/2023-GAAMPs/2023-Site-Selection-GAAMPs.pdf?rev=108073e4cff840a7a58707693f86d54d&hash=DF0D4C1A7169CD1639AEB451094CC8F1

How far away can factory farms impact air, water, and public health?

Air quality can be impacted up to 5 miles away.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), factory farms can impact water quality through runoff and leaching nutrients and pollutants from manure and other wastes, contaminating nearby surface and groundwater sources.

In addition to nutrient pollution, factory farms can also contribute to the spread of pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can contaminate water sources and pose a risk to public health.

Will this factory farm impact my property values?

Yes.

"According to a multitude of studies conducted since the late 1980s, the construction of a CAFO lowers the home and land values around it. A 2015 publication found that properties located within three miles of a CAFO lose up to 26% of their value, and neighboring houses, those within .25 miles, lose up to 88%. In fact, it is estimated that CAFOs around the United States have reduced property values by twenty-six billion dollars as of 2008.”

The agriculture department says they follow generally accepted agricultural management practices (GAAMPS) and the "MOU." What is this?

See GAAMPS

The Michigan Right to Farm Act, P.A. 93, was enacted in 1981 to provide farmers with protection from nuisance lawsuits. This state statute authorizes the Michigan Commission of Agriculture to develop and adopt Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices (GAAMPs) for farms and farm operations in Michigan. These voluntary practices are based on available technology and scientific research to promote sound environmental stewardship and help maintain a farmer's right to farm.

MOU  is a Memorandum of Understanding between the Michigan Department of Agriculture and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, entered into for the purpose of delineating the respective roles and responsibilities regarding state agency response actions to environmental and nuisance complaints about farm operations.

Why don’t local zoning laws prevent factory farms?

Michigan’s 1999 amendment to the Right to Farm Act was especially noteworthy since that amendment removed local authority (such as zoning) over farm operations that meet the requirements of the Act, which turn out to be easily met: a farm needs only to be commercial and to meet the requirements of the so-called GAAMPs—Generally Accepted Agriculture and Management Practices—to earn Right to Farm protection.

This was widely considered a boon for industrialized agriculture since, after 1999, they were no longer required to seek or win approval for their operations from local governments if they were commercial and compliant with the GAAMPs.


Are there videos I can watch to learn more?

Yes. You can see how these factory farms have impacted communities. A couple to start with:

Living a Nightmare: Animal Factories in Michigan: This short documentary depicts the devastating impact of industrial livestock operations in rural Michigan. Part 1 , Part 2

Right to Harm: Through the stories of five rural communities, this documentary exposes the devastating public health impact factory farming has on rural communities.

Where can I read more about the impacts of Factory Farms?