Herbicide Harm to Biodiversity
KEY POINTS – Herbicide Harm to Biodiversity 1. Herbicide drift and runoff kill non-target plants, impacting ecosystems including the animals that rely on the plants for food and habitat. 2. Herbicides are ubiquitous in the nation’s waterways, especially glyphosate and atrazine, the two most common herbicides. 3. About 60-70% of glyphosate is used on corn […]
Neonics Use on Feed Crops
KEY POINTS – Neonics Use on Feed Crops 1. Neonicotinoids (neonics) are now the most widely used insecticides in the U.S. 2. Broadly estimated, about 75% of neonics are applied to corn and soybeans, with about half applied to the share of corn and soy going specifically to animal feed. 3. Neonics are highly toxic […]
Slaughterhouse Worker Safety Oversight
What federal agencies oversee worker safety in slaughterhouses and processing plants? The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the primary federal agency tasked with ensuring safe and healthy conditions for workers by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance. OSHA is responsible for enforcement in the private sector for […]
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. About 50% of total U.S. herbicides is applied to corn and soybeans – crops used primarily for animal feed. 2. More than 30% of all herbicide use is applied to the share of corn and soybeans going specifically to animal feed. 3. About 70% of all […]