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
Farms and major food companies use AI to improve efficiency and forecast demand. Still, developers said that training AI for different uses is only possible with support from knowledgeable workers.
The report shows that, despite production challenges, dairy farmers are producing more milk with fewer resources per gallon across the industry.
More than 1,100 residents and farmers have signed a letter urging Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins to step in, saying the proposal threatens irrigation supplies and long-term farm viability in the region.
Higher yields are cushioning lower acreage, but reduced production could support firmer potato prices into 2026.
Canada’s new voluntary Grocery Sector Code of Conduct will take effect on Jan. 1, a goodwill effort to promote fairness and transparency between retailers and support farms that sell directly to stores.
Small, locally focused wineries are finding resilience through direct sales and regional loyalty rather than scale alone.