FARMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Plans for two enormous chicken farms in southern Delaware are testing the region’s long-held faith in the poultry industry.

The News-Journal of Wilmington (http://delonline.us/1rCjB6G ) reports that at peak production, the two farms would produce almost 1.5 million chickens a year. That’s more than there are people in Delaware.

The separately owned operations would be jammed into just over one square mile of southern Kent County, near Farmington.

Delaware’s “Right to Farm” law puts no restriction on the number of chicken houses that can be built on land zoned for agriculture.

But some neighbors, county and state officials say they’re concerned that such large operations could become a trend that would pose a risk to public health, infrastructure and rural quality of life.

___

Information from: The News Journal of Wilmington, Del., http://www.delawareonline.com

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.