Zoonoses and Animal Ag
What is a zoonosis? A zoonosis is an infectious disease that is transmitted from vertebrate non-human animals (wild or domesticated) to humans. A zoonotic pathogen can be bacterial, viral, or parasitic, and can be transmitted by direct contact with an animal, through contamination of food, water, soil, or air, or indirectly via non-vertebrate “vectors” such […]
GHG Emissions Takeaways
GHG Emissions Takeaways Takeaways are key points detailed and referenced in the Greenhouse Gas Emissions section U.S. Share of Total GHG Emissions The U.S. is responsible for the largest share of historical GHG emissions; through 2021, the U.S. generated ~17% of historical global emissions. The U.S. share of global annual emissions in 2024 was ~11%, […]
Water Pollution Takeaways
Water Pollution Takeaways Takeaways are key points detailed and referenced in the Water Pollution section Key Takeaway Industrial animal agriculture is the primary driver of water pollution in the U.S. This reality is hidden from the public due to agricultural exceptionalism, federal agency obfuscation, and a culture that supports high levels of meat consumption. The […]
Animal Ag Antibiotic Usage
Broadly estimated, what share of “medically important” antibiotics is used by animal ag? Until recently, the most credible estimate was that almost two-thirds of all antibiotics deemed medically important were used by the U.S. factory farming system.[1-3] This is now an underestimate, given the reported 16% increase in animal usage from 2023 to 2024.[4] Human […]
Antibiotic Resistance & Animal Ag
What is antibiotic resistance? Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria undergo changes that enable them to resist antibiotics that previously were effective treatments. This makes certain bacterial infections difficult to overcome.[1] Antibiotic resistance is an inevitable and natural process due to the huge numbers of microbes and their inherent ability to adapt. But the process can […]
Farmed Animal Biomass and Biodiversity
What is biomass? Biomass is the aggregated weight of living organisms, grouped according to species or location.[1] Estimates of biomass are helpful in assessing trends and impacts in ecological communities.[2,3] Rafferty, J. P. (n.d.) biomass. In Encyclopaedia Britannica.com. [“Biomass is the weight or total quantity of living organisms of one animal or plant species (species […]
Insecticide (Neonics) Harm to Biodiversity
KEY POINTS – Insecticide (Neonics) Harm to Biodiversity 1. Neonicotinoids (neonics) are the most widely used insecticides in the U.S. 2. Neonics are highly toxic and accumulate in soils; the damaging effects on many species are persistent, widespread, and well documented. 3. Neonics are especially damaging to bees and many other pollinators, a wide range […]
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 […]