Where Can I Build or Expand a Livestock Operation? A Case Study of Cuming County, Nebraska

2004 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extenstion Swine Report. The impacts that setback distances of 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 3/4, and 1 mile would have on the land area available to the livestock industry for expansion in Cuming County, Neb. were estimated using a geographic information system and the current county zoning requirements. These setbacks seem to be typical of distances cited in many county zoning regulations. Setback distances greater than 3/8 of a mile appear (Continued on next page) to be very exclusive to expansion of the livestock industry in Cuming County. Reciprocal setbacks that apply to new housing construction do not appear to be restrictive. It is expected that other Nebraska counties that are similar in population density will have similar resulting land areas available for livestock facility expansion for similar distances. Setbacks of greater than 1/4 of a mile may substantially retard growth of the livestock industry in a county.