NPPC’s comments were submitted to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, which held a hearing on 6 September on the livestock and poultry industries’ effects on air and water quality and on public health.

Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer, D-California, convened the hearing due to concerns about “significant environmental and health issues" that stem from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).

In its testimony, NPPC pointed out that the concerns were either being addressed or have been proved unfounded. With regard to water and air quality, for example, the Environmental Protection Agency is set to issue later this year a new rule on discharges from CAFOs, and the agency is conducting an emissions study of livestock operations to help set air standards for farms.

Chris Chinn, an NPPC member and pork producer from Missouri, testified that the livestock industry already is “highly regulated” and faces “some of the most stringent fines and enforcement actions.”

The Environmental Protection Agency is set to finalise a rule later this year on discharges from CAFOs that will set a goal of zero discharges from livestock operations. In addition, the pork industry has been working closely with environmental regulators to conduct a nationwide study of air emissions from livestock operations to help set air standards for farms.

“The US pork industry’s top goal is to meet worldwide consumer demand while protecting water, air and other environmental resources that are in its care or potentially affected by its operations,” said Randy Spronk, chairman of NPPC’s Environment Committee and a pork producer from Edgerton, Minnesota. “We are committed to protecting our environment,” he added.

Further Reading

- Got to another article on AFBF Senate Committee testimonies by clicking here.