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

This work investigates the spatial dynamics currently at work in the Missou ri hog production industry with regard to confined animal feeding operation s (CAFOs). Through a quantitative analysis of enterprise size and an interp retation of legal and social pressures in the area, clustering of productio n facilities within the industry is examined. State legislation was found t o influence various sizes of CAFOs in how they cluster. As a whole, the lar gest CAFOs were found to be the most influenced due to their heavily restri cted geography while smaller CAFOs were less influenced by state laws.