88 counties in Iowa chose to join the Livestock Master Matrix in January. Both Washington and Keokuk County will not be using this system. The matrix is a system that can help livestock producers in the planning phase of building a new facility on a farm says Byron Leu, a Livestock Expert with the ISU Extension. It is a point system that helps farmers determine if a plot of land will have an effect on the community or environment. It doesn’t place any restrictions on building, but gives livestock producers an idea of whether or not the board of supervisors will approve that building. For a more in depth look at the livestock master matrix, listen to our In Touch program on Monday.