Seward County Extends Poultry Moratorium

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At the request of the Seward County Planning Commission, the Seward County Commissioners have voted to extend a moratorium on adding new large-scale commercial poultry operations in the county for an additional five months, through May 31, 2026.

Why it matters

The moratorium extension gives the planning commission more time to review regulations and potential impacts of industrial poultry facilities in the largely agricultural county, as residents have raised concerns about environmental and quality of life issues related to these operations.

The details

The Seward County Commissioners voted to extend the moratorium, which was originally put in place last year, at the request of the county's planning commission. The extension will keep a pause on new large-scale commercial poultry operations while the planning commission continues to review regulations and potential impacts on the community.

• The original moratorium was put in place in 2025.
• The extended moratorium will now run through May 31, 2026.

What’s next

The Seward County Planning Commission will continue to study the issue and make recommendations to the county commissioners on any new regulations or policies regarding large-scale commercial poultry operations.