Maryland Department of the Environment Publishes CAFO Permit After 10-month Delay
Since last July, chicken growers in Maryland have run their farms under the terms of an expired permit – which was required by the State. On Friday the Maryland Department of the Environment released the 2025 general discharge permit for animal feeding operations or CAFO permit. This will replace the expired permit on May 8 and Maryland broiler chicken growers will be able to start the process of applying for the new permit. Legislation passed in the Maryland General Assembly (House Bill 395 and Senate Bill 371), but has not yet been signed by Governor Moore would make sure that a similar type permit delay can’t happen again.
Additional information from Delmarva Chicken Association:
“We welcome the news that MDE has finalized the 25AF permit as required by Maryland law, after a nearly 10-month delay,” said Holly Porter, Delmarva Chicken Association executive director. “The holdup stalled an estimated $30 million in business investment by builders, realtors, lenders, equipment manufacturers and farmers to build modern chicken houses to replace older houses coming out of service. DCA will be reviewing the final permit and comparing it with any public comments issued to MDE on the draft. Once we analyze the permit, line by line, we’ll detail any important changes that Maryland’s family farmers raising broiler chickens need to know about.”
The permit revision process has been happening in the context of agriculture in the Chesapeake Bay watershed reducing its impact on the bay, cutting its nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment load by adapting conservation measures on farms and improving chickens’ feed conversion through genetic research and feed composition.
Because this permit delay was so worrying and costly for our members, DCA supported legislation in the General Assembly (House Bill 395 and Senate Bill 371) to make sure a permit delay by MDE won’t ever again impose a de facto moratorium on chicken-farm investment. The General Assembly passed the bills unanimously, and we were glad to see lawmakers so clearly state a permit delay can’t happen again.
We’re confident that the legislation will soon be signed into law, giving chicken growers reassurance that Maryland values their contributions to the state’s $5.5 billion chicken economy – and won’t allow regulatory delays to stop these family farmers from investing, growing and thriving.