CAFOs are Confined Animal Feeding Operations, large-scale factory farms that produce an excessive amount of animal waste. Many Missourians object to the presence of CAFOs in their area because the massive amounts of animal waste can contaminate groundwater. The unpleasant smell also discourages hunters, fishers, and tourists from visiting the area, hurting local economies that depend on tourism. 

1) I strongly support local control of CAFOs and restrictions on CAFO locations near state parks and sites.

2) I was a co-sponsor of the legislation allowing initiative petitions by local residents opposing a CAFO and of the legislation to require a buffer zone between a CAFO and state parks & sites.

3) When the supporters of local control were looking for legislators to oppose the bill which would have restricted local control I was the first legislator to sign their petition.