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.
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