Researchers identify thousands more Iowa livestock facilities than state database shows

Researchers from the Environmental Working Group identified 15,309 livestock facilities in Iowa using aerial and satellite data, exceeding the state's database count by over 4,000. The state database excludes small operations not regulated by law, while the study includes all facilities with at least 50 animal units to assess manure-related environmental impacts. The analysis also found a 12.9% increase in large livestock facilities since 2019.