Feedlot Runoff a Huge Concern, Nearly 1000 Cattle Farms Located Near Crop Fields in California

California produces over 13% of the country’s “agricultural production value. In fact, the state is the nation’s sole producer (generating 99% or more) of several different crops.

If you enjoy almonds, artichokes, clingstone peaches, dried plums, figs, olives, persimmons, pomegranates, raisins, sweet rice, or walnuts, thank a Californian farmer.

Over 81,000 farms and ranches span a combined 25.36 million acres of agricultural land.

Things get complicated when farms and ranches are located next to each other. As they often are. In these situations, a dangerous problem known as feedlot runoff can occur.

Feedlot Runoff Creates a Significant Public Health Threat

Feedlot runoff creates a significant public health threat in that it endangers irrigation sources for nearby crop farms. But what exactly is feedlot runoff?

When you have a large amount of cattle eating and living in a confined area, their excrement can literally pile up. In areas where animals eat, they also poop.

Farms portion off areas to move these manure stores away from the animals until it is used for other purposes.

Animal manure is often composted into fertilizer or used for other purposes. In many cases, farmers either sell this waste product or process it themselves.

When it rains, snow melts, or some other movement of water through these areas, water does what it does. It seeps into the ground water or moves toward other bodies of water. Places like streams, rivers, or lakes.

Some of that organic material and the microscopic microorganisms contained within will get washed into those bodies of water as “runoff.” The same bodies of water crop farms use for irrigation.

Some of those microorganisms can cause serious issues to human health.

Feedlot Runoff Creates a Pathogenic Problem

A pathogen is the blanket term for any organism that causes disease. There are pathogens a-plenty in cattle manure.

Bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi, and even parasitic worms are pathogens capable of causing infection or disease in humans as well as wild or domestic animals, and plants.

Many of these pathogens are naturally occurring in livestock and poultry manure, and when they contaminate foods meant for human consumption, it becomes a significant health risk.

Bacteria

Livestock manure is an ecosystem often filled with bacteria capable of causing disease in humans. Many times, the animal does not show signs or symptoms of infections despite their digestive system being filled with this microscopic germs.

Bacteria commonly found in livestock manure includes:

• Escherichia coli O157:H7
• Salmonella
• Listeria
• Clostridium

Without proper water disinfectants (such as chlorine), these pathogens can infect irrigation water or even human drinking water supplies.

Protozoa

Many parasites can be commonly found in livestock manure. These parasites can cause significant illness in humans. Particularly the very young, the elderly, and those with a compromised immune system.

Protozoa commonly found in livestock manure includes:

• Cryptosporidium parvum
• Giardia lamblia

Even with high levels of chlorine, some protozoa can survive disinfection techniques. Cryptosporidium, for example, can be tricky to irradicate from a water supply.

Viruses

While most of the viruses that livestock shed in their manure cause no threat to humans, viruses can still pose a human health risk.

Influenza viruses in swine are a prime example.

More information on the highly pathogenic avian flu that has recently affected dairy cows and other animals is needed to understand that risk as well.

Fungi

While not having a huge impact on human health, fungal spores can be present in cattle manure. Certain enzymes found in manure can activate those spores to wake them up and begin growing again.

The fungal threat is primarily to crop production. Using non-composted manure in crop production fields can increase the risk of crop disease and reduce production from that farm.

Recent Investigation Reveals Nearly 1,000 Factory Farms are Located Near Crop Fields and Irrigation Sources

A recent Environmental Working Group (EWG) Investigation revealed that nearly 1,000 factory farms are located near crop fields and irrigation sources, creating a huge risk of foodborne illnesses.

Feedlot runoff can wash dangerous pathogens found in cattle manure into irrigation sources or even directly onto crop lands. When people consume food tainted with those pathogens, they may become sick or even die from those infections.

“California grows many of the fruits and vegetables consumed across the country,” said EWG Senior GIS Analyst Ethan Bahe, author of the investigation. “So when the state’s produce is contaminated with pathogens, just about everyone is at risk for serious or even life-threatening foodborne illness as a result.”

The investigation tracked 1,062 of the state’s concentrated animal feeding operations. Nearly 77 million animals combined. Most of these animal feedlots produce cattle, though 150 facilities house poultry such as chickens, ducks, and turkeys.

93% of these operations were within a mile of canals used for watering crops.

42% of these operations were within a quarter of a mile from these waterways

Some of the manure storage tanks on these feedlots were located mere feet away from an irrigation canal – significantly increasing the risk of feedlot runoff and irrigation water contamination.

Studies Have Shown Impact as Far as Four Miles Away

Other studies have explored the respiratory impact of pollutants from feedlot operations. Residents up to four miles away from feedlots have experienced respiratory damage attributed to these operations.

“So it’s probably that bacteria in manure on cattle feedlots can drift on air currents into fields or waterways up to that distance,” says EWG.

This EWG Investigation Hopes to Promote Stricter Regulations on Feedlot Runoff Due to Impact to Human Health

The purpose of the EWG investigation was to bring attention to the huge concern of feedlot runoff and the subsequent impact on crop contamination in such an area where both cattle and crop operations are in such close proximity.

“By mapping the state’s animal operations and their proximity to waterways, we hoped to spotlight the need for stricter regulations,” Bahe said. “But our analysis also shows how, without stronger oversight, food safety in this country is alarmingly precarious.”

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By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)