No, AFOs (animal feeding operations) must keep and raise livestock in confined areas (areas with no desirable vegetation) for at least 45 days over a 12-month period to be considered an AFO by regulatory definition. Small farms that raise livestock, but keep them in pastures (not in confinement) are not considered AFOs.
Although small farms may not fall under the AFO definition, both small farms that do not confine animals (considered pasture-based) and AFOs are subject to the rules and regulations of the Clean Water Act.
See FAQ 27108 for the definition of an AFO.
