Public records available through the Maryland Department of the Environment’s website identify 558 Animal Feeding Operations (AFO) regulated by the state. Of these, 418 received permits issued by MDE and the remaining 140 are in various stages of completion. For example, 62 farms have yet to submit a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan, a document which MDE requires in order to undergo a full application review.

The map that accompanies this report presents a look at the geographic distribution of Maryland’s Animal Feeding Operations, along with a set of farm-specific attributes. Our primary focus is the amount of time required by MDE to process an entire permit cycle. As you will discover, the period from the initial Notice of Intent to AFO registration is often greater than one year.