Fertilizer & Manure Harm to Biodiversity
KEY POINTS – Fertilizer and Manure Harm to Biodiversity? 1. Nutrient pollution – excess nitrogen and phosphorus in the environment – is one of the key drivers of biodiversity loss. 2. The main sources of nutrient pollution are chemical fertilizers applied to monoculture crops and concentrated manure from factory farming. 3. Nutrient pollution causes eutrophication […]
Insecticides (Neonics) Overview
What are insecticides? Insecticides are “chemicals used to control insects by killing them or preventing them from engaging in undesirable or destructive behaviors.”[1] Most insecticides are neurotoxins that disrupt an insect’s nervous system resulting in death.[2,3] U.S. EPA (2024) Insecticides Overview. https://www.epa.gov/caddis/insecticides Scharf, M. E. (2008). Neurological effects of insecticides and the insect nervous system. […]
Animal Ag Water Use Pressure on Biodiversity
5 KEY POINTS – Animal Ag Water Use Pressure on Biodiversity 1. Animal agriculture accounts for about 40% of total U.S. water consumption, by far the largest use. 2. It is not commonly understood that this massive use of water has enormous negative impacts on biodiversity, especially on freshwater species. 3. Animal ag water extraction […]
Animal Ag Land Use Pressure on Biodiversity
5 Key Points – Animal Ag Land Use Pressure on Biodiversity Agricultural land use leading to habitat loss is the primary driver of biodiversity loss. Animal agriculture has driven the transformation of more than half of the land in the contiguous U.S.; about 35% is grazing land and about 10% is used specifically for animal […]
Slaughterhouse Line Speed Regulations
Who sets the maximum line speed in a slaughterhouse? The maximum speed of a slaughter line (aka evisceration line) is set by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) in the Code of Federal Regulations. This “maximum slaughter rate” (maximum line speed) is based on the number of animals that FSIS inspectors can effectively […]
Animal Ag Drivers of Biodiversity Loss Overview
KEY POINTS – Animal Ag Drivers of Biodiversity Loss Overview 1. The primary cause of global and U.S. biodiversity loss is habitat loss, driven by agriculture. 2. Animal agriculture accounts for the largest share of agricultural impacts due to feed crop production and grazing. 3. Livestock grazing is the most widespread influence on native ecosystems […]
Herbicide Use on Feed Crops
KEY POINTS – Herbicide Use on Feed Crops 1. Glyphosate and atrazine are the most widely used herbicides. 2. About half of total glyphosate usage is applied to the share of crops going specifically to animal feed – primarily corn and soybeans. 3. About 60% of all atrazine is applied to the share of crops […]
U.S. Biodiversity Loss – The Numbers
What is the status of biodiversity loss in the U.S.? NatureServe estimates that 34% of plant species and 40% of animal species in the U.S. are at risk of extinction. The organization also estimates that 41% of ecosystems are at risk of range-wide collapse.[1,2] NatureServe is a non-profit that collects data from a network of […]
Herbicide Use Overview
KEY POINTS – Herbicide Use Overview Why does agricultural herbicide usage matter? The main reasons are: More than a hundred agricultural herbicides in use in the U.S. Multiple applications as standard practice on most crops. Human health risks, both documented and still unknown. Lack of comprehensive research, monitoring, and effective regulation. Scientific controversies and public confusion regarding impacts. Damages to […]
Chemical Fertilizer Use on Feed Crops
KEY POINTS – Chemical Fertilizer Use on Feed Crops 1. About 50% of all U.S. nitrogen applications and ~75% of all phosphorus are used on corn and soybeans, the primary feed crops. 2. About a third of all U.S. nitrogen use and almost half of all phosphorus is applied to the share of corn & […]