And, while corporations rake in the profit generated by industry concentration, they contractually disavow responsibility for managing the waste generated by their animals. CAFOs can produce as much waste as a small city, but without the most basic waste treatment system to process it. Naturally, the increased concentration of animal production led to the concentration of high volumes of waste. By contracting with formerly independent farmers, the controlling corporations have attempted to shift liability for the pollution caused by their unsustainable, industrial-scale production methods to these farmers. This is particularly true with respect to waste management. These contracts, drafted by corporate lawyers, are often unfair to the contract grower. Now, by entering into contracts with growers, companies own the livestock and dictate nearly every facet of production, from the type of animals to the size of confinement facilities, right down to the sort of feed and medical treatment provided to the animals.

In the past, an independent family farmer could raise his own animals based on his professional judgment and experience. The key to this industry transformation was the growth of contract farming. Thus, although national meat production has more than doubled since the 1950s, the number of farms in the United States has decreased by 80%. Animals are now raised in enormous, confined facilities - referred to as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) - that can confine tens of thousands of animals indoors throughout their short life cycle. To maximize profits, these companies engineered a shift away from traditional production methods that involved small herds of grazing animals and on-farm feed production. Rapid industry expansion and vertical integration, led by multinational corporations, nearly destroyed the independent family farm. The meat production industry was fundamentally transformed in the last half of the 20th century.

We lobby state and federal authorities to strengthen and enforce existing prohibitions on the discharge of animal waste into our waterways, seek to hold corporations that dictate facility operations accountable for waste management practices, promote sound policies that protect our waterways and support independent farmers, and take legal action against the most egregious violators. Waterkeeper Alliance educates the public and decision-makers about the impacts of industrialized livestock operations, supports communities and local farmers, and advocates for sustainable food systems.

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