A Worth County health ordinance regulating large-scale animal confinements has been struck down by a district judge. Second District Judge Stephen Carroll has ruled that the county’s ordinance regulating air and water quality, and worker safety, is preempted by state law. Iowa code prohibits counties from adopting laws that regulate how land is used for production, care, feeding or housing of animals. Carroll’s ruling makes the ordinance void. A lawyer for the county says he was disappointed with the decision, saying the ordinance was used by the county boards of health and supervisors to protect residents’ health. Plaintiffs in the case included the Worth County Friends of Agriculture, Worth County Farm Bureau and individual farmers. The county’s attorneys say any decision to appeal would be made by the county boards.