Mercy For Animals, an anti-animal cruelty nonprofit, has recently released drone footage exposing a disturbing situation at a dairy farm in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin. The footage shows massive open-air pits of animal waste located right next to a residential neighborhood. The nonprofit organization shared the footage on X (formerly known as Twitter).
In addition to the drone footage, Mercy For Animals also interviewed local residents who claim that the waste from the dairy farm is contaminating their drinking water. One resident, Arlin Karnopp, displayed his well, which he says has been contaminated by manure. He also presented samples of brownish and dirty-looking water that he collected from his sink.
Karnopp expressed his anger, stating, “It makes me very angry that, for what we did to make our home a place for the family, it’s being destroyed. When [our grandchildren] come, they brush their teeth with water that we buy and wash their face, and if there’s anything we cook, we cook with bottled water… You spend so much money to build a house and work on it, and then you can’t drink the water.”
Karnopp had the water tested and found that it contained nitrates and E. coli. A study conducted in 2021 by Environmental Health Perspectives revealed that the consumption of cow feces-contaminated drinking water in Kewaunee County led to hundreds of cases of acute gastrointestinal illnesses.
The detrimental environmental impact of factory farms is well-documented. Animal agriculture is responsible for 14.5% of all greenhouse gas pollution, according to the ASPCA. This includes substantial amounts of methane and nitrous oxide, which are even more harmful to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.
Livestock farms, such as the one featured in the drone footage, produce a staggering 885 billion pounds of manure each year, which pollutes the air and water in the surrounding areas. Furthermore, this waste is not treated or regulated by any government agency.
Michele Merkel, a former EPA attorney who resigned due to the agency’s reluctance to hold polluting mega-farms accountable, stated, “The factory farming industry has avoided any effective regulation and accountability for a long time.” She now works for an advocacy group that advocates for accountability in the industry.
The disturbing footage has sparked outrage among viewers, with one commenter on X criticizing the lack of regulation and accountability in the industry. The commenter directed their message to the dairy farm in question, saying, “You must be proud @WIDairyland @WisconsinCheese.”
The widespread environmental and health concerns surrounding factory farms highlight the need for increased regulation and accountability in the industry. It is crucial to address these issues to protect both the environment and the well-being of communities affected by the harmful practices of the animal agriculture industry.
