CONNECTICUT

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CONNECTICUT

• Livestock and Poultry Issues
• Bruce A. Sherman, DVM, MPH
• Director, Bureau of Regulation and Inspection

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Definition of Agriculture

• C.G.S. 1-1(q)
• The words "agriculture" and "farming" shall
  include.. the raising, shearing, feeding, caring
  for, training and management of livestock,
  including horses, bees, poultry, fur-bearing
  animals and wildlife.

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Definition of Livestock and Poultry

• C.G.S. 22-278 Livestock" is defined as any
  camelid or hooved animal raised for domestic or
  commercial use.
• C.G.S. 22-324 Poultry" means all domesticated
  fowl, including chickens, turkeys, water fowl and
  pet, zoological or psittacine birds.

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Animal Density Minimum Acreage Requirements

• State statutes and regulations do not set minimum
  acreage requirements for any species of livestock
  or poultry.
• Livestock and poultry management practices have a
  greater impact on animal care and environmental
  factors than do minimum acreage requirements.

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Animal Density Minimum Acreage Requirements

• Restrictions on the number of animals kept per
  acre does not necessarily result in better
  management practices.
• If municipalities insist on implementation of
  minimum acreage requirements, such restrictions
  should be reasonable and adaptable to differing
  types of livestock and poultry operations and be
  site-dependent.

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Animal Density Minimum Acreage Requirements

• Increased interest in local and produce your
  own food sources has lead to a continuing growth
  in backyard or hobby animal food production
  especially poultry and egg production.
• Youth educational projects such as those
  supervised through 4-H and Vo-Ag often involve a
  single or at best a few animals.
• Minimum acreage requirements, if too restrictive,
  discourage such endeavors.

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Right to Farm LawPublic Health Statute C.G.S.
19a-341

• Agricultural or farming operation
• not deemed a nuisance
• DPH statute
• Odor, noise and dust
• Must meet generally accepted agricutural
  practices as determined by the Commissioner of
  Agriculture

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Right to Farm LawPublic Health Statute C.G.S.
19a-341

• Use of chemicals and certain exemptions from
  water pollution approval from Commissioner of
  D.E.P.
• Farming operation must be in operation for 1 year
  or more and has not been substantially changed.

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Terminology Re Management Practices

• Best Management Practices vs. Generally
  Accepted Management Practices.
• Agricultural guidelines for producers use the
  term best management practices.
• From a regulatory or enforcement perspective, the
  term best sets the bar too high when used in
  regulations and ordinances.
• Who or what governmental entity makes the
  determination if an agricultural operation is in
  compliance with the standards set for livestock
  and poultry management practices?

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Other Issues

• Manure Management
• On-Farm
• Stockpiled
• Synergy poultry/crop production
• Regulatory agency cooperation
• Set-Back Restrictions
• Commercial vs. Non-Commercial Farms

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