Fact & Fiction
Dairy farm operations are complex and often misunderstood by the general public. Below are some common myths about how dairy operations work and the truth to set the record straight.
Stewardship of Rural New York [PDF, 4.24MB]
Myth #1:
New York's farms rank poorly in environmental protection compared to other states.
Fact #1:
New York has among the strongest water quality regulations in the U.S. In fact, a recent Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruling indicated that New York's CAFO program even exceeds the Clean Water Act requirements.
New York's farms rank poorly in environmental protection compared to other states.
Fact #1:
New York has among the strongest water quality regulations in the U.S. In fact, a recent Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruling indicated that New York's CAFO program even exceeds the Clean Water Act requirements.
Myth #2:
There is no oversight of New York's CAFOs.
Fact #2:
Trained and certified agricultural water quality planning professionals oversee all CAFO farm manure management plans. These professionals have strong backgrounds in agricultural planning and are charged with developing a specific, regularly updated manure management plan to protect water quality.
There is no oversight of New York's CAFOs.
Fact #2:
Trained and certified agricultural water quality planning professionals oversee all CAFO farm manure management plans. These professionals have strong backgrounds in agricultural planning and are charged with developing a specific, regularly updated manure management plan to protect water quality.
Myth #3:
Farms do not need manure storage facilities and do not need to spread manure.
Fact #3:
Manure storage facilities are essential on CAFO farms. Livestock manure is a natural source of fertilizer and organic matter, which provides many benefits to the soil, including providing nutrients, increasing water holding capacity, and improving structure. Manure is stored until the most environmentally-sound time to apply it to the soil so it can serve these functions.
Farms do not need manure storage facilities and do not need to spread manure.
Fact #3:
Manure storage facilities are essential on CAFO farms. Livestock manure is a natural source of fertilizer and organic matter, which provides many benefits to the soil, including providing nutrients, increasing water holding capacity, and improving structure. Manure is stored until the most environmentally-sound time to apply it to the soil so it can serve these functions.
Myth #4:
Farmers do not take into account their neighbors' questions or concerns about how, why or when manure is spread.
Fact #4:
Farmers make every effort to ensure superior relations and take steps to minimize any negative impacts on their surrounding community. For example, many farmers work with community members by attempting to coordinate certain farm activities around neighbors' schedules and offer public opportunities to come visit the farm and see how the farm runs.
Farmers do not take into account their neighbors' questions or concerns about how, why or when manure is spread.
Fact #4:
Farmers make every effort to ensure superior relations and take steps to minimize any negative impacts on their surrounding community. For example, many farmers work with community members by attempting to coordinate certain farm activities around neighbors' schedules and offer public opportunities to come visit the farm and see how the farm runs.
