Spatial clustering and state/county legislation: The case of hog production in Missouri

This work investigates the spatial dynamics currently at work in the Missouri hog production industry with regard to confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Through a quantitative analysis of enterprise size and an interpretation of legal and social pressures in the area, clustering of production facilities within the industry is examined. State legislation was found to influence various sizes of CAFOs in how they cluster. As a whole, the largest CAFOs were found to be the most influenced due to their heavily restricted geography while smaller CAFOs were less influenced by state laws.