Case Law Index
Animal Feeding Operations

January 1, 2002 - March 1, 2011

This index provides a comprehensive though not necessarily exhaustive compilation of reported and unreported federal and state court decisions involving the Animal Feeding Operations that were decided on or after January 1, 2002. For those cases that have been summarized by the National Agricultural Law Center, a link is provided to the summary. The index will be regularly updated to reflect new judicial developments. The cases are listed in reverse chronological order.

The "Text" link goes to the freely available Google Scholar text of the opinion; the "Summary" link goes to a summary of the opinion written by the National Agricultural Law Center staff.

FIRST CIRCUIT

U.S. Public Interest Research Group v. Atlantic Salmon of Maine, 215 F.Supp.2d 239 (D.Me. 2002) (CWA citizen suit against salmon farm)  Text    |    Summary

U.S. Public Interest Research Group c. Stolt Sea Farm, Inc., 2002 WL 240386 (D.Me. 2002) (CWA citizen suit against salmon farm)   Summary

U.S. Public Interest Research Group v. Heritage Salmon, Inc., 2002 WL 240440 (D.Me. 2002) (CWA citizen suit against salmon farm)

SECOND CIRCUIT

Humane Soc'y of United States v. HVFG, LLC, No. 06 CV 6829(HB), 2010 WL 1837785 (S.D.N.Y. May 06, 2010) (private party action for a violation of the Clean Water Act)  Text

Coon ex rel. Coon v. Willet Dairy, Ltd. P'ship, 536 F.3d 171 (2d Cir. 2008) (discharges by a dairy)  Text    |    Summary

Coon v. Willet Dairy, LP, 2007 WL 2071746 (N.D.N.Y. 2007) (CWA and RCRA claims)  Text    |    Summary

Waterkeeper Alliance, Inc. v. U.S. E.P.A., 399 F.3d 486 (2d Cir. 2005) (challenge to CAFO Act)  Text    |    Summary

THIRD CIRCUIT

Reynolds v. Rick's Mushroom Service, Inc., 246 F.Supp.2d 449 (E.D. Pa. 2003) (waste from mushroom processor)  Text    |    Summary

FIFTH CIRCUIT

Nat'l Pork Producers Council v. EPA, No. 08-61093, 2011 WL 871736 (5th Cir. March 15, 2011) (challenge to EPA regulation of emission of water pollutants by feeding operations)

SIXTH CIRCUIT

Kentucky Waterways Alliance v. Johnson, 426 F.Supp.2d 612 (W.D.Ky. 2006) (EPA sued for approval of state's water quality antidegradation rules)  Text    |    Summary

Johnson County Citizen Comm. for Clean Air & Water v. U.S. E.P.A., 2005 WL 2204953 (M.D.Tenn. 2005) (EPA NPDES discretion)   Summary

Sierra Club, Inc. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., 299 F.Supp.2d 693 (W.D. Ky. 2003) (definition of "facility" under CERCLA)  Text    |    Summary

SEVENTH CIRCUIT

Test Drilling Serv. Co. v. Hanor Co., 322 F.Supp.2d 965 (C.D. Ill. 2004) (property damage)  Text    |    Summary

Save The Valley, Inc. v. U.S. E.P.A., 223 F.Supp.2d 997 (S.D. Ind. 2002) (implementation of CWA)  Text    |    Summary

EIGHTH CIRCUIT

Elliott v. Lake County, No. CIV 10-04001-RAL, 2010 WL 4553548 (D. S.D. Nov. 3, 2010) (zoning restrictions on feeding operations)  Text

Yankton Sioux Tribe Head Start Concerned Parents v. Longview Farms, LLP, No. CIV. 08-4058, 2009 WL 891866 (D. S.D. Mar. 31, 2009) (tribe had no authority to regulate non-Indian farrowing operation)  Text    |    Summary

Minnesota Ctr. for Envtl. Advocacy v. U.S. E.P.A, 2005 WL 1490331 (D. Minn. 2005) (challenge to EPA's approval of TMDL levels)   Summary

Daniels v. Iowa, 2005 WL 1398498 (S.D. Iowa 2005) (constitutional challenge of DNR regulation)   Summary

Furnas County Farms v. Hayes County, 2002 WL 1796511 (D. Neb. 2002) (zoning)   Summary

Forrest v. Northland Cas. Co., 213 F.Supp.2d 1023, 1023-24 (W.D. Ark. 2002) (insurance policy dispute)  Text    |    Summary

NINTH CIRCUIT

Holdner v. Or. Dep't of Agric., 676 F.Supp.2d 1141, 2009 WL 5149264 (D. Or. 2009) (discharges of pollutants by a CAFO)  Text

Ass'n of Irritated Residents v. Fred Schakel Dairy, No. 1:05-CV-00707, 2008 WL 850136 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 28, 2008) (motion to dismiss CAA challenge to dairy)  Text    |    Summary

Or. Natural Desert Ass'n v. U.S. Forest Serv., No. 07-634-AS, 2008 WL 140657 (D. Or. Jan. 10, 2008) (issue and claim preclusion)  Text    |    Summary

Ass'n of Irritated Residents v. C & R Vanderham Dairy, No. 1:05-CV-01593, 2007 WL 2815038 (E.D. Cal. Sept. 25, 2007) (CAA challenge against a dairy)   Summary

Coldani v. Hamm, No. Civ S-07-660, 2007 WL 2345016 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 16, 2007) (CWA challenge against a dairy)   Summary

Association of Irritated Residents v. Fred Schakel Dairy, 2005 WL 3299508 (E.D. Cal. 2005) (administrative procedures)  Text    |    Summary

Community Ass'n for Restoration of the Environment v. Henry Bosma Dairy, 305 F.3d 943 (9th Cir. 2002) (CWA challenge against dairy farm)  Text    |    Summary

Association to Protect Hammersley, Eld, and Totten Inlets v. Taylor Resources, Inc., 299 F.3d 1007 (9th Cir. 2002) (CWA challenge against shellfish producer)  Text    |    Summary

U.S. v. New Portland Meadows, Inc., 2002 WL 31180956 (D. Or. 2002) (discharge of pollutants from horse racetrack facility)   Summary

TENTH CIRCUIT

Kersenbrock v. Stoneman Cattle Co., LLC, 2007 WL 2219288 (D. Kan. 2007) (citizen suit under the CWA)  Text    |    Summary

Oklahoma ex rel Edmondson v. Tyson Foods, Inc. 2007 WL 649332 (N.D. Okla. 2007) (interrogatories, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure)  Text    |    Summary

Sierra Club v. Seaboard Farms Inc., 387 F.3d 1167 (10th Cir. 2004) (definition of "facility" under CERCLA)  Text    |    Summary

Sierra Club v. Seaboard Farms, Inc., 2002 WL 32443305 (W.D. Okla. 2002) (CERCLA)   Summary

D.C. CIRCUIT

Association of Irritated Residents v. E.P.A., 494 F.3d 1027 (D.C. Cir. 2007) (review of EPA enforcement action)  Text    |    Summary

CALIFORNIA

Association of Irritated Residents v. San Joaquin Unified Air Pollution Control Dist., 85 Cal. Rptr. 3d 590 (Cal. Ct. App. 2008) (adopting CAA standards for non-attainment areas)   Summary

GEORGIA

Terrell v. Payne, 622 S.E.2d 330 (Ga. 2005) (nuisance)  Text    |    Summary

Payne v. Terrell, 604 S.E.2d 551 (Ga. Ct. App. 2004) (nuisance)  Text    |    Summary

IDAHO

Idaho Dairymen's Ass'n v. Gooding County, 227 P.3d 907 (Idaho 2010) (challenging county CAFO ordinance)  Text

Idaho Conservation League, Inc. v. Idaho State Dept. of Agriculture, 146 P.3d 632 (Idaho 2006) (disclosure of Nutrient Management Plans)  Text    |    Summary

Chisholm v. Twin Falls County, 75 P.3d 185 (Idaho 2003) (zoning)  Text    |    Summary

Scott v. Gooding County, 46 P.3d 23 (Idaho 2002) (zoning)  Text    |    Summary

Gooding County v. Wybenga, 46 P.3d 18 (Idaho 2002) (CAFO ordinance)  Text    |    Summary

ILLINOIS

Rochester Buckhart Action Group v. Young, 887 N.E.2d 49 (Ill. App. Ct. 2008) (definition of "new facility" under state law)  Text    |    Summary

INDIANA

Pardue v. Perdue Farms Inc., 925 N.E.2d 482 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010) (nuisance action against turkey growers over contaminated groundwater)  Text

Jennings Water, Inc. v. Office of Envtl. Adjudication, -909 N.E.2d 1020 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009) (denying petition review permit for construction of CFO)  Text

Thomas v. Blackford County Area Bd. of Zoning Appeals, 907 N.E.2d 988 (Ind. 2009) (no standing to challenge special exception to zoning law received by dairy)  Text

Benton County Remonstrators v. Bd. of Zoning Appeals of Benton County, 905 N.E.2d 1090 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009) (two special applications granted for CAFO construction; proper notice given to landowners)  Text    |    Summary

Lindsey v. DeGroot, 898 N.E.2d 1251 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009) (nuisances claims against a dairy)  Text    |    Summary

Save The Valley, Inc. v. Fergus, 896 N.E.2d 1205 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008) (injunction to prevent AFO being built)  Text    |    Summary

Thomas v. Blackford County Area Bd. of Zoning Appeals, No. 05A04-0711-CV-731, 2008 WL 2854526 (Ind. Ct. App. July 25, 2008) (standing to challenge grant of CAFO special zoning exemption)  Text    |    Summary

Terra Nova Dairy, LLC v. Wabash County Bd. of Zoning Appeals, 890 N.E.2d 98 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008) (denial of improvement location permit for new dairy)  Text    |    Summary

Thomas v. Oolman Dairy, LLC, 858 N.E.2d 256 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006) (zoning)  Text    |    Summary

Breitweiser v. Indiana Office of Environmental Adjudication, 810 N.E.2d 699 (Ind. 2004) (administrative procedures)  Text    |    Summary

Breitweiser v. Indiana Office of Environmental Adjudication, 775 N.E.2d 1175 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002) (judicial review)  Text    |    Summary

IOWA

Kramer v. Board of Adjustment for Sioux County, 791 N.W.2d 711 (Iowa Ct. App. 2010) (permit for wastewater storage lagoon)

Jongma v. Grand Pork, Inc., No. 08-1640, 2009 WL 3381518 (Iowa Ct. App. Oct. 21, 2009) (interpretation of manure easement)  Text

Daniels v. Iowa, No. 07-1275, 2008 WL 4569870 (Iowa Ct. App. Oct. 15, 2008) (redress of civil penalties for violations of AFO waste handling requirements)  Text    |    Summary

Simpson v. Kollasch, 749 N.W.2d 671 (Iowa 2008) (failure to prove anticipatory negligence by neighbors of a hog farm)  Text    |    Summary

Worth County Friends of Agriculture v. Worth County, 688 N.W.2d 257 (Iowa, 2004) (home rule authority)  Text    |    Summary

Gacke v. Pork Xtra, L.L.C., 684 N.W.2d 168 (Iowa 2004) (validity of right to farm law)  Text    |    Summary

Sierra Club v. Wayne Weber, L.L.C., 689 N.W.2d 696 (Iowa 2004) (nuisance action)  Text    |    Summary

KANSAS

David v. Board of Com'rs of Norton County, 89 P.3d 893 (Kan. 2004) (county CAFO law challenged)  Text    |    Summary

MICHIGAN

Sierra Club Mackinac County v. Dep't of Envtl. Quality, 766 N.W.2d 857 (Mich. 2009) (upholding reversal of declaratory judgment for state CAFO program)  Text

Sierra Club Mackinac Chapter v. Dept. of Envtl. Quality, 747 N.W.2d 321 (Mich. Ct. App. 2008) (review of state general CAFO permit)  Text    |    Summary

MINNESOTA

In re Dairy Dozen-Thief River Falls, LLP, Nos. A09-936, A09-1406, 2010 WL 2161781 (Minn. Ct. App. June 01, 2010) (timeliness of appeal for feedlot permit)

Daley Farms of Lewiston, LLP v. Habben, No. A07-1050, 2008 WL 2105980 (Minn. Ct. App. May 20, 2008) (discovery of defective dairy manure lagoons)  Text    |    Summary

Wakefield Pork, Inc. v. Ram Mut. Ins. Co., 731 N.W.2d 154 (Minn. Ct. App. 2007) (odor within pollution exclusion)  Text    |    Summary

Berne Area Alliance for Quality Living v. Dodge County Bd. of Com'rs, 694 N.W.2d 577 (Minn. Ct. App. 2005) (Environmental Impact Statement)  Text    |    Summary

Vasgaard v. Murray County Bd. of Com'rs, 2003 WL 21962493 (Minn. Ct. App. 2003) (challenge to denial of petition for Environmental Assessment Worksheet)   Summary

Wendinger v. Forst Farms, Inc., 662 N.W.2d 546 (Minn. Ct. App. 2003) (farming operation challenged)  Text    |    Summary

Schwardt v. County of Watonwan, 656 N.W.2d 383 (Minn. 2003) (farming permit granted)  Text    |    Summary

MISSISSIPPI

Sierra Club v. Mississippi Environmental Quality Permit Bd., 943 So.2d 673 (Miss. 2006) (challenge to issuance of air pollution control permit)  Text    |    Summary

MISSOURI

State ex rel. Missouri Parks Ass'n v. Missouri Dep't of Natural Res., 316 S.W.3d 375, 2010 WL 1608839 (Mo. Ct. App. 2010) (challenge to CAFO construction permit)  Text   

Bd. of Dirs. of Richmond Twp. v. Kenoma, LLC, 284 S.W.3d 672 (Mo. Ct. App. 2009) (town lacked authority to regulate hog farm)  Text

Shuler v. Premium Standard Farms, Inc., 148 S.W.3d 1 (Mo. Ct. App. 2004) (wrongful discharge)  Text    |    Summary

NEBRASKA

Farmers Elevator, Inc. v. Harford Fire Ins. Co., No. A-09-005, 2009 WL 3654739 (Neb. Ct. App. Nov. 3, 2009) (confined hog deaths not covered by policy)  Text

Sand Livestock Sys., Inc. v. Svoboda, 17 Neb. App. 28 (Neb. Ct. App. 2008) (slander suit by hog farm against environmental group)  Text    |    Summary

Johnson v. Knox County P'ship, 728 N.W.2d 101 (Neb. 2007) (feedlot as a private nuisance)  Text    |    Summary

D.B. Feedyards, Inc. v. Envtl. Sci., Inc., 745 N.W.2d 593 (Neb. Ct. App. 2008) (breach of environmental consulting service contract)  Text    |    Summary

Hanchera v. Board of Adjustment, 694 N.W.2d 641 (Neb. 2005) (zoning)  Text    |    Summary

Premium Farms v. County of Holt, 640 N.W.2d 633, (Neb. 2002) (county regulatory authority)  Text    |    Summary

NORTH CAROLINA

Neuse River Found., Inc. v. Smithfield Foods, Inc., 574 S.E.2d 48 (N.C. Ct. App. 2002) (standing to challenge misuse of hog waste)  Text

NORTH DAKOTA

Hagerott v. Morton County Bd. of Comm'rs, 778 N.W.2d 813 (N.D. 2010) (permit for feedlot)  Text

OHIO

Meerland Dairy L.L.C. v. Ross Twp., --- N.E.2d ---, 2008 WL 1991886 (Ohio Ct. App. 2008) (city's ability to control CAFOs)  Text |    Summary

OKLAHOMA

Hummer v. State ex re. Oklahoma Bd. of Agric., 245 P.3d 1244 (Ct. Civ. App. 2010) (affected landowner seeks to force review of approval for swine feeding operation)

Patzkowsky v. Oklahoma ex rel. Okla. Bd. of Agric., 217 P.3d 146 (Okla. Civ. App. 2008) (review of decision to grant CAFO permit)  Text

SOUTH DAKOTA

Grant County Concerned Citizens v. Grant County Bd. of Com'rs, 794 N.W.2d 462 (S.D. 2011) (proposed increase of setbacks for CAFOs was not a legislative decision and not referable to a referendum vote)

Andersen v. Town of Badger, 769 N.W.2d 834 (S.D. 2009) (challenging city waiving required distance from town CAFO could be built)  Text

Woodruff v. Bd. of Comm'rs for Hand County, 741 N.W.2d 746 (S.D. 2007) (challenge of AFO zoning ordinance)  Text    |    Summary

Schafer v. Deuel County Bd. of Com'rs, 725 N.W.2d 241 (S.D. 2006) (zoning)  Text    |    Summary

Jensen v. Lincoln County Bd. of Com'rs, 718 N.W.2d 606 (S.D. 2006) (preexisting use)  Text    |    Summary

Bechen v. Moody County Bd. of Com'rs, 703 N.W.2d 662 (S.D. 2005) (zoning)  Text    |    Summary

Elliott v. Board of County Com'rs of Lake County, 703 N.W.2d 361 (S.D. 2005) (zoning)  Text    |    Summary

Hay v. Board of Com'rs for Grant County, 670 N.W.2d 376 (S.D. 2003) (zoning)  Text    |    Summary

In re Yankton County Com'n, 670 N.W.2d 34 (S.D. 2003) (zoning)  Text    |    Summary

Kirschenman v. Hutchinson County Bd. of Com'rs, 656 N.W.2d 330 (S.D. 2003) (zoning)  Text    |    Summary

In re Conditional Use Permit Denied to Meier, 645 N.W.2d 579 (S.D. 2002) (denial of farming permit)  Text    |    Summary

TEXAS

Barrera v. Hondo Creek Cattle Co., 132 S.W.3d 544 (Tex. App. 2004) (right to farm)  Text    |    Summary

Collins v. Texas Natural Resource Conservation Com'n, 94 S.W.3d 876 (Tex. App. 2002) (permit to change waste management system challenged)  Text    |    Summary

City of Waco v. Texas Natural Resource Conservation Com'n, 83 S.W.3d 169 (Tex. App. 2002) (regulation of CAFO permits)  Text    |    Summary

WASHINGTON

Dep't of Ecology v. Douma, 193 P.3d 1102, 2008 WL 4567130 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008) (dairy not a significant contributor to water pollution)  Text    |    Summary

WISCONSIN

Adams v. Livestock Facilities Siting Review Bd., No. 2009AP608, 2010 WL 2519595 (Wis. Ct. App. June 24, 2010) (town's additional zoning restrictions preempted)  Text