NY Legislators: Ban New Factory Farms!

New York has a factory farm problem. Factory farms get bigger every year – crowding out small and mid-sized farms, generating massive amounts of waste, and causing water and air pollution. We’ve seen a decades-long trend of consolidation, and without action at the state level, it will only get worse.

That’s why we’re excited about the recently introduced bill to ban new factory farms in New York. We can win a ban on new factory farms, but it’s going to take all of us working together.

Take action: Urge your state legislators to ban new factory farms in New York!

Your Message

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I urge you to support new legislation to ban new factory farms in New York (A6928/S6530). This crucial legislation would slow the explosive growth of massive factory farms that are already posing huge threats to New York’s water, soil, and air.

New York has a huge – and growing – waste problem from factory farms. In 2022 (the latest year data is available), New York had 425,018 dairy cows living on mega-dairies. These operations produce a total of 17.5 billion pounds of manure each year, equivalent to the amount of sewage produced by 12.9 million people (two-thirds of New York’s population). When untreated manure from factory farms – often stored in liquid lagoons or applied to agricultural fields as fertilizer – is exposed to rain or snow melt, it produces runoff that pollutes our soil and water.

Factory farms also increase the threat and frequency of harmful algal blooms (HABs). Animal waste stored onsite can leak into waterways; animal manure sourced from factory farms and used as fertilizer washes off agricultural fields during rainstorms. This manure runoff contains high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, which fuel algae growth, sparking HABs. HABs can lead to closure of recreational waters, aquatic life die-offs, contamination of drinking water supplies, and increased costs to residents when water infrastructure requires upgrades.

Finally, factory farms also endanger rural economies across New York. While factory farm operations have been growing, New York’s small family-scale farmers have been struggling to survive. In the last five years alone, we’ve lost 43.5% of our family-scale dairies. As farmers are forced out, rural New York suffers, exacerbating a crisis that includes out-migration from rural areas and soaring poverty rates.

It’s time to stop factory farms. I urge you to support commonsense legislation banning new factory farms in New York. Please cosponsor and champion the ban on new factory farms (A6928/S6530).

Sincerely,
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{user_data~City}, {user_data~State} {user_data~Ghost Zip Code}

Sincerely,
[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Address]

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