Pollution in the Chesapeake Bay is a problem and has been a focus of federal and state initiatives to
reduce nutrient pollution from agriculture and other sources since 1983. In 2010 EPA established a TMDL
for the watershed. Producers may voluntarily respond to intense and focused policy scrutiny by adopting
best management practices. A detailed analysis of water quality best management practices by animal
feeding operations inside and outside the watershed yield insight into this relationship. Our findings
support the hypothesis that farmers will adopt water quality measures if links are made clear and there is
an expectation of future regulations.