Possible Chicken Litter Ban: One expert says that fertilizer is to blame for Oklahoma’s water woes

A nearly two-decade-old lawsuit in Oklahoma is drawing attention to the use of poultry litter as fertilizer.

In 2023, a district judge found poultry companies responsible for pollution in Oklahoma’s eastern waterways. The court is now considering measures to help combat that pollution.

A soil scientist with the Oklahoma Conservation Commission took to the stand and claimed that halting the land application of poultry waste is a necessary step to address the watershed issues.

He said that runoff from chicken litter fertilizer has led to elevated phosphorus levels, ultimately depleting oxygen, clouding water, and straining utility systems.

Poultry companies argue that increased transportation of litter out of the state has limited its impact.

Related Stories
Here is a regional snapshot of harvest pace, crop conditions, logistics, and livestock economics across U.S. agriculture for the week of Monday, November 17, 2025.
UMN Extension’s Emily Krekelberg outlines today’s top farm stressors, key signs of mental health distress in rural communities, and the resources available for support.
National Pork Board Chief Sustainability Officer Jamie Burr shares a closer look at the Pork Checkoff’s Pork Cares Farm Impact Report, a research program to increase trust in the pork supply chain.
Ethanol markets remain mixed — weaker production and blend rates are being partially balanced by stronger exports as winter demand patterns take shape.
Strong U.S. yields and steady demand leave most major crops well supplied, keeping price pressure in place unless usage strengthens or weather shifts outlooks.