The previous example and Tables 2-8 make several assumptions concerning the use of public roadways during the transport of certain inputs. First, it is assumed that all feed is purchased in bulk and transported to the confined animal facilities via the jurisdiction's roadways. Some operations may grow some or all the necessary feed inputs on land adjoining the new development, however. If so, some or all of the trips needed to move the feed may occur on private roads or pathways hence reducing the number of trips on public roadways. On the other hand, if feed inputs are harvested on adjoining lands and transported over public roadways, this will often occur in trucks or wagons that are smaller than those used to transport bulk purchased feed. If this is the case, the total number of trips must be increased to reflect the smaller vehicles used.
Also, the number of total trips calculated should be decreased if the new enterprise merely involves relocation of animals or inputs that would have traversed the jurisdiction's roadways even if the facility were not built. Two examples are particularly pertinent. Suppose the new enterprise was merely a consolidation of several enterprises currently housed in the jurisdiction, and the distances traveled per trip were basically the same. For example, suppose 10, 100-animal-unit operations in a given jurisdiction merged into one, centrally located operation of 1,000 animal units. In this case, the new operation mimics the activity of the old operations, and no additional trips are generated by the new enterprise. If part of the new operation merely replaces existing operations already in the jurisdiction, trip counts should be adjusted accordingly.
Also, consider an example with respect to feed inputs. Suppose a new enterprise were constructed in the jurisdiction and used feed grains raised in the jurisdiction. If, in the absence of the new enterprise, the grain would have traversed the jurisdiction's roadways to reach final market, and that distance traveled on jurisdiction roadways was similar to the distance to reach the new enterprise, no new trips have been generated by the enterprise with respect to the transport of grains. To calculate such credits one must assess how many of the grain inputs are being trucked in from other jurisdictions and prorate the input trips accordingly. In the absence of direct data concerning the location of the feed inputs, this can be ascertained from estimates of the jurisdiction's animal population needs and grain production. The residual would typically traverse the roadways to some other market and hence, would not require additional trips though the total mileage may differ.
Extending the previous example, consider another situation that might occur in which a new livestock development may decrease roadway usage by feed-grain transport. Consider a case where, before the construction of a new livestock development, grain traveled across the entire jurisdiction en route to its final destination. With the presence of the new livestock operation, the grains might only travel half way across the jurisdiction on public roadways to reach the operation. Total jurisdiction roadway usage for moving feed grains decreased by 50 percent and this reduction could be used as a credit against the new trips generated by moving additional manure and animal outputs. Such credits against the base-trip calculation must be made on a case-by-case basis, however, and must use the facts relevant to local situation.
Finally, consider a case where a vehicle that delivers inputs to the operation also transports outputs to market. For example, a possum-belly truck that delivers feeder pigs to the production site might also transport finished hogs to the slaughter plant as part of the same trip. If so, the round trip mileage traveled in the jurisdiction for both the inputs and outputs involved in such a complementary transportation arrangement should be divided in half. Otherwise, it is assumed in all trip calculations that all input trucks leave the operation empty and that all output trucks arrive at the operation empty.
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