Farmers Caught in the Middle
Cheyenne Holliday, a Tyson-contracted poultry farmer in Washington County, told KATV the settlement offers some reassurance that the company intends to maintain a presence in northwest Arkansas. Still, she said her family has been informed their contract will not be renewed.
While the agreement brings clarity, it also tightens restrictions on the land application and sale of chicken litter as fertilizer — a critical revenue stream for many producers.
Holliday described the impact as potentially devastating for the region’s poultry sector, warning that limits on selling litter could squeeze farmers already navigating thin margins. She added that if her farm secured a new contract and a buyer, her family would consider leaving northwest Arkansas, citing concerns about ongoing scrutiny over water quality.
Dispute Over Responsibility
Farmers involved in the case maintain they have not been treated fairly. Since the lawsuit began roughly 20 years ago, they say they have implemented stronger environmental safeguards to protect waterways from chicken litter runoff. According to them, the Illinois River currently meets the water quality standards Oklahoma sought in 2004.
Holliday emphasized that the settlement should not be interpreted as an admission of guilt by poultry farmers for water quality problems in the watershed.
Lawmakers echo that sentiment, pointing to regulatory reforms enacted in Arkansas to address environmental concerns. State Sen. Bryan King, a Republican representing District 28 and a poultry farmer himself, told KATV that the state adopted farm plans, soil testing requirements and application rate guidelines to ensure responsible waste management.
