What is an AFO, and how is it different from a CAFO?
An AFO (animal feeding operation) is any lot or facility where any number of animals (need not be the same animals) have been, are, or will be stabled, confined, gathered, or concentrated and fed or maintained for a total of 45 days or more (need not be consecutive) in any 12-month period (need not correspond to the calendar year), and the animal confinement areas do not sustain crops, vegetation, forage growth, or post-harvest residues. Two or more AFOs under common ownership are considered a single AFO and may require registration as a CAFO if they adjoin or are in close proximity to each other. Two or more AFOs under common or different ownership are considered a single AFO and may require registration as a CAFO, separately or together, if they are operated as a single operation, if they use a common area or system for the disposal of wastes, if they significantly share resources, storage or treatment systems, equipment, etc., or if they otherwise link operations. A defined CAFO is
