Water, Feedlots, and the Water, Feedlots, and the ConsequencesConsequences

By Corena WhiteBy Corena White

Water CrisisWater Crisis

• 70% of All Water Withdrawals From 70% of All Water Withdrawals From Lakes, Rivers, and Groundwater Lakes, Rivers, and Groundwater Resources Goes Towards AgricultureResources Goes Towards Agriculture

• But More Than Half of the Water But More Than Half of the Water Never Makes it To the Crops Never Makes it To the Crops Because Of Leakage or EvaporationBecause Of Leakage or Evaporation

The Role of Climate ChangeThe Role of Climate Change

• Continued deforestation mainly for Continued deforestation mainly for the purpose of feedlots and the the purpose of feedlots and the accumulation of carbon dioxide, accumulation of carbon dioxide, methane gas, and nitrous oxide is methane gas, and nitrous oxide is changing precipitation and changing precipitation and temperature patternstemperature patterns

• Fresh water will be more scarce than Fresh water will be more scarce than ever before if these patterns continueever before if these patterns continue

Agricultural DemandsAgricultural DemandsPotatoesPotatoes 500 liters/kg500 liters/kgWheatWheat 900 liters/kg900 liters/kgAlfalfaAlfalfa 900 liters/kg900 liters/kgSorghumSorghum 1100 liters/kg1100 liters/kgCornCorn 1400 liters/kg1400 liters/kgRiceRice 1912 liters/kg1912 liters/kgSoybeansSoybeans 2000 liters/kg2000 liters/kgBroiler ChickensBroiler Chickens 3500 liters/kg3500 liters/kgBeefBeef 100000 liters/kg100000 liters/kg

Feedlots and Their DamageFeedlots and Their Damage

• The damaging product from feedlots is The damaging product from feedlots is manuremanure

• U.S. livestock produces 250,000 U.S. livestock produces 250,000 pounds of excrement per secondpounds of excrement per second

• There are NO sewage systems at There are NO sewage systems at feedlotsfeedlots

• The amount of waste produced The amount of waste produced annually by livestock which is NOT annually by livestock which is NOT recycled is 1 billion tonsrecycled is 1 billion tons

Lagoons, Earthen Pits, and Lagoons, Earthen Pits, and Holding PondsHolding Ponds

• Lagoons & Earthen Pits hold diluted waste Lagoons & Earthen Pits hold diluted waste for 6 to 24 monthsfor 6 to 24 months

• Designed to allow the waste to partially Designed to allow the waste to partially decompose by anaerobic bacteria before decompose by anaerobic bacteria before field application for “fertilizer” field application for “fertilizer”

• Holding Ponds are used for short-term Holding Ponds are used for short-term storage and little decomposing occurs and storage and little decomposing occurs and it is also used for the purpose of it is also used for the purpose of “fertilization”“fertilization”

The Pitfalls of the PitsThe Pitfalls of the Pits

• The bottoms of these Pits, Lagoons, The bottoms of these Pits, Lagoons, and Ponds are not sealed effectively and Ponds are not sealed effectively and often these basins are only 30 and often these basins are only 30 feet away from ground waterfeet away from ground water

• Ironically, animal manure “seals” the Ironically, animal manure “seals” the bottom of the basins and besides the bottom of the basins and besides the manure only heavy-textured, clayey manure only heavy-textured, clayey soils line the bottomsoils line the bottom

When the Pits Runneth OverWhen the Pits Runneth Over

• On June 21, 1995, 25 million gallons of hog On June 21, 1995, 25 million gallons of hog urine & feces spilled into New River in urine & feces spilled into New River in North Carolina, when a lagoon holding 8 North Carolina, when a lagoon holding 8 acres of hog excrement burstacres of hog excrement burst

• 10-14 million fish were killed as a result10-14 million fish were killed as a result

Some alive fish had open sores, fisherman Some alive fish had open sores, fisherman and vacationers developed body sores, and vacationers developed body sores, acute memory loss, strange bouts of acute memory loss, strange bouts of temper and seizurestemper and seizures

Legislation?Legislation?

• The Comprehensive Environmental The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) (CERCLA)

• Enacted by Congress in 1980 created a tax Enacted by Congress in 1980 created a tax on the chemical and petroleum industries on the chemical and petroleum industries and provided broad Federal authority to and provided broad Federal authority to respond directly to releases or threatened respond directly to releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances that may releases of hazardous substances that may endanger public health or the environmentendanger public health or the environment

Legislation?Legislation?

• The Superfund Amendments and The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) amended Reauthorization Act (SARA) amended CERCLA in 1986; stressed the CERCLA in 1986; stressed the importance of permanent remedies importance of permanent remedies and innovative treatment and innovative treatment technologies in cleaning up technologies in cleaning up hazardous waste siteshazardous waste sites

Meat-Packing PlantsMeat-Packing Plants

• Toll on the CattleToll on the Cattle

• DangersDangers

• Undocumented WorkersUndocumented Workers

Agricultural ImprovementsAgricultural Improvements

• Can Iran Help?Can Iran Help?

• Surge Flow IrrigationSurge Flow Irrigation

• Low-Energy Precision Application (LEPA)Low-Energy Precision Application (LEPA)

• The Drip or MicroirrigationThe Drip or Microirrigation

Other SuggestionsOther Suggestions

• Implement Laws to Halt Deforestation For Cattle Implement Laws to Halt Deforestation For Cattle Production i.e. feedlotsProduction i.e. feedlots

• Stop subsidizing water for all meatsStop subsidizing water for all meats• Mandatory sewage systemsMandatory sewage systems• Stop the usage of all chemicals on all feedlots Stop the usage of all chemicals on all feedlots

then,then,• Find a demand for manure, perhaps the buyers of Find a demand for manure, perhaps the buyers of

beef like McDonalds, Wal-Mart, etc., can sell the beef like McDonalds, Wal-Mart, etc., can sell the manure for people’s compost, or use the methane manure for people’s compost, or use the methane for alternative energiesfor alternative energies

• Make Feedlot Waste Laws and Enforce ThemMake Feedlot Waste Laws and Enforce Them• Become a Vegetarian or a VeganBecome a Vegetarian or a Vegan