Lost Valley Farm, Oregon’s second-largest dairy farm, had its operating permit
recently revoked by the state’s department of agriculture for
continually violating environmental requirements related to managing animal
waste.
recently revoked by the state’s department of agriculture for
continually violating environmental requirements related to managing animal
waste.
According to the state, Lost Valley Farm
failed to comply with a court order requiring it to correct a number of
environmental violations, including the farm’s contamination of legally
protected groundwater with cow manure. That’s right, the factory farm did
nothing to stop the waste from thousands of animals from seeping into the soil
and polluting potential drinking water.
failed to comply with a court order requiring it to correct a number of
environmental violations, including the farm’s contamination of legally
protected groundwater with cow manure. That’s right, the factory farm did
nothing to stop the waste from thousands of animals from seeping into the soil
and polluting potential drinking water.
As if that weren’t terrible enough, Tillamook
County Creamery Association, which purchases raw milk from Lost Valley Farm to
make cheese, stated it would cancel its contract with the farm after repeatedly
finding that the milk contained high levels of bacteria.
County Creamery Association, which purchases raw milk from Lost Valley Farm to
make cheese, stated it would cancel its contract with the farm after repeatedly
finding that the milk contained high levels of bacteria.
Before Lost Valley Farm built its massive
dairy operation, concerned officials in Morrow County penned
a letter to the state’s department of agriculture explaining that the farm
could negatively impact human health and the environment:
dairy operation, concerned officials in Morrow County penned
a letter to the state’s department of agriculture explaining that the farm
could negatively impact human health and the environment:
The County Court
respectfully asks that the ODA, through issuance of this permit, not harm water
reserves, increase groundwater contamination, or negatively impact agricultural
production.
The dairy industry has a record of egregious water pollution. Last
year, a dairy factory farm just outside Loveland, Colorado, was placed under
investigation after public health officials discovered that cow manure had been dumped into the Big
Thompson River. Similarly, more than 190,000 gallons of manure from Tony Silveira Dairy
spilled into Oregon’s Tillamook Bay last year. And an HP Hood dairy
facility in Frederick County, Virginia, came under fire for regularly violating pollution limits in its
wastewater.
year, a dairy factory farm just outside Loveland, Colorado, was placed under
investigation after public health officials discovered that cow manure had been dumped into the Big
Thompson River. Similarly, more than 190,000 gallons of manure from Tony Silveira Dairy
spilled into Oregon’s Tillamook Bay last year. And an HP Hood dairy
facility in Frederick County, Virginia, came under fire for regularly violating pollution limits in its
wastewater.
Toxins like manure and fertilizer from factory
farm runoff leak into nearby waterways. These toxins promote algae blooms,
which create dead zones that kill marine life. In fact, animal excrement and agricultural runoff have polluted
nearly one-third of rivers in the U.S.
farm runoff leak into nearby waterways. These toxins promote algae blooms,
which create dead zones that kill marine life. In fact, animal excrement and agricultural runoff have polluted
nearly one-third of rivers in the U.S.
Dairy factory farming is not only damaging to human health and the environment but unspeakably
cruel. At dairy factory farms, cows are treated as mere
milk-producing machines. They are forcibly impregnated and kept in terrible conditions. Calves are torn away from
their mothers shortly after they are born. Male calves are killed for veal.
Females are forced into the dairy herd, trapped in a cycle of abuse for years
until they are considered “spent and sent to slaughter.
cruel. At dairy factory farms, cows are treated as mere
milk-producing machines. They are forcibly impregnated and kept in terrible conditions. Calves are torn away from
their mothers shortly after they are born. Male calves are killed for veal.
Females are forced into the dairy herd, trapped in a cycle of abuse for years
until they are considered “spent and sent to slaughter.
Heartbreaking, right? Just watch this
undercover video from a Mercy For Animals investigation.
undercover video from a Mercy For Animals investigation.
Join the millions who are boycotting this
terrible industry by ditching dairy and other animal products and switching to
a compassionate vegan diet. Click here to get started!
terrible industry by ditching dairy and other animal products and switching to
a compassionate vegan diet. Click here to get started!
