background image

The myths we tell ourselves about American farming

author image

By illuminem briefings

· 2 min read


illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on VOX or enjoy below

🗞️ Driving the news: US livestock farms are the leading contributors to water pollution, with animals producing around 2.5 billion pounds of waste daily
• Surprisingly, most of these farms aren't regulated under the 1972 Clean Water Act
• The EPA has postponed stricter regulations, opting for a 12-18 month study

🔭 The context: This issue is a manifestation of "agricultural exceptionalism."
• Farms in the US frequently operate under lenient rules, leading to pollution, animal abuse, and labor exploitation
• This preferential treatment extends across various regulations, from labor laws to environmental protections

🌎 Why does it matter for the planet: The continuous disregard for proper regulation poses severe environmental risks
• The unchecked pollution jeopardizes freshwater sources and amplifies the damage to ecosystems
• Beyond environmental concerns, the lax regulations impact labor rights and animal welfare

⏭️ What's next: The EPA's current stance is to delay action and further study the situation
This approach has historical precedence, as seen with issues like air pollution
• The influence of meat and dairy producers, coupled with a seamless movement between the agricultural industry and governmental roles, maintains the status quo

💬 One quote: "It’s the tactic of the [agricultural] industry to slow walk everything — renegotiate, restudy, reevaluate the obvious." (Silvia Secchi, natural resource economist at the University of Iowa)

Click for more news covering the latest on sustainable lifestyle

Did you enjoy this illuminem voice? Support us by sharing this article!
author photo

About the author

illuminem's editorial team - providing you with concise summaries of the most important sustainability news of the day.

Follow us on Linkedin, Twitter​ & Instagram

Other illuminem Voices


Related Posts


You cannot miss it!

Weekly. Free. Your Top 10 Sustainability & Energy Posts.

You can unsubscribe at any time (read our privacy policy)