22nd Annual Student Research Conference
The Effect of Health Ordinances on Agricultural and Economic Indicators in Missouri Counties
Kenda L. Cavender
Dr. Michael Seipel, Faculty Mentor
Health ordinances have been implemented by Missouri counties as a way to control the location and prevalence of confined animal feed operations (CAFOs) within county boundaries. Ordinance opponents claim that such ordinances will limit the growth and viability of farm operations within those counties. Data from 89 Missouri counties were analyzed to test this claim. Indicators included livestock numbers, farm employment, farm numbers, employment rates, wage rates, and population. Analysis was restricted to counties of similar population size and proximity to a metro area. Analysis of variance was used to contrast mean indicator values across three comparison groups: counties with no health ordinances, counties with health ordinances established in 1997, and counties with health ordinances established after 1997. Analysis revealed no significant changes in the variables across the groups. Future research could be performed on this subject and generate more meaningful results given a greater time span of data.
Keywords: health ordinance, agriculture, farm, livestock, confined animal feeding operations, CAFO, Missouri
Topic(s):Agricultural Science
Economics
Political Science
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 23-3
Location: VH 1416
Time: 10:15