IATP Hog Report - Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

Section 3
In 1998, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), studied the quantity and
quality of seepage from two Southern Minnesota liquid manure basins/
lagoons during their first year of operation. 41 One basin belonged to a
small dairy farm and another held liquid manure from the pregnant sow
barn belonging to a large hog facility. Seepage from both exceeded the
MPCA recommended maximum design rate. Seepage was greatest
through the lagoon sidewalls at both sites, except for the first three months
at the hog operation. Nitrate concentrations in seepage from the hog
lagoon exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
drinking water standard in 17 of 22 samples.
In August 1999, the Oklahoma State Agriculture Department reported on
tests of soils next to a Hanor Farms 43,000-hog site named Roberts
Ranch. 42 Compared to 10 units of coliform bacteria per 25 grams of soil
nearby, scientists found 3,000 to 5,100 units of coliform bacteria per 25
grams of soil next to the manure lagoon. High levels of fecal matter were
found four feet under the soil. Salt levels ranging from 4,594 parts per
million to 10,930 parts per million were found in the ground next to the
lagoon, while a control sample showed a maximum of 299 parts per
million. High levels of ammonium nitrate were also found.
In LaGrange County, Indiana, a cluster of miscarriages among residents
was investigated by the national Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC). 43 Sampling by the state health department found one
conclusive pollutant, nitrate. In three of the cases, the suspected cause was
a hog confinement facility whose well had previously been documented as
contaminated.
The facility was located within a mile of three of the affected women's
homes.
Groundwater Depletion
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Hog factories use millions of gallons of fresh groundwater daily to serve
the animals and save labor costs by using the water to clean and flush the
barns. On some large factory farms, a steady, but shallow, stream of water
runs continuously over floors to keep accumulating feces moist enough to
be flushed. The potential for recycling flush water to clean barns is limited
due to concerns of reintroducing disease microorganisms.
Groundwater is a precious, but unpriced, common property natural
resource. Using this resource for flushing manure from hog factories is a
major economizing factor of industrialized farming methods and, hence,
for factory farm owners and investors. But it is an extractive rather than a
sustainable use, and it is potentially costly to society, future generations,