Bill > HB1159

This bill imposes a temporary halt, known as a moratorium, on the establishment of new or the expansion of existing industrial dairy operations in South Dakota until June 30, 2028. An "industrial dairy operation" is defined as a dairy farm with more than 7,499 dairy cows. This moratorium specifically applies to operations permitted as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) under chapter 34A-2 and requiring a conditional use permit from a county, if the number of animal units would exceed 7,499 dairy cows. Existing, permitted dairy operations can continue to operate at their current approved scale. The purpose of this pause is to give the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources time to gather and analyze data on the economic and environmental effects of these large-scale dairy farms, and to make that information public. It also aims to provide county governments with the opportunity to update their land use plans and regulations, potentially by requiring road agreements with these operations and implementing larger buffer zones, or "setbacks," based on the size of the dairy. Additionally, the moratorium allows the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources to assess if it has sufficient resources to evaluate the impact of industrial dairy operations on the state's watersheds.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/27055