Hazards of Farming

An agricultural enterprise in Norfolk converted to organic practices after years of using pesticides, which was a relief for nearby residents, as pesticides increase rates of human cancers and harm birds and other pollinators. This business now applies manure waste from nonorganic dairy farms in Canaan to their fields. Although this application is approved under USDA organic certification standards, it is anything but ecological. Dairy farm waste can contain concentrated chemical compounds, antibiotics, hormones and multi-drug resistant bacteria which can leach into water. Approximately half of the 9 million annual foodborne illnesses in the United States, and hundreds of deaths, are due to contaminated produce, according to a 2013 CDC study.

The revolting odor that neighbors are subjected to following this manure application is from emissions containing hazardous chemicals such as ammonia, methane and hydrogen sulfide. This odor is much more than a nuisance and results in significant negative public health impacts. A recent study reports that over 3,000 preventable deaths occur in the United States annually related to emissions from plant growing farms, and many more deaths related to emissions from meat producing farms.

Martha Klein