(41) The Effects of Livestock Production on Water Contamination in the State of Montana

Recent literature hones in on the negative effects of animal farming and livestock production on groundwater quality. Growing concerns of environmental impacts and sustainability have resulted in an increased focus on the... [ view full abstract ]

Recent literature hones in on the negative effects of animal farming and livestock production on groundwater quality. Growing concerns of environmental impacts and sustainability have resulted in an increased focus on the factors contributing to water pollution. Non-point source run-off from large farm operations containing hogs, cows, and chickens can pollute nearby water sources. The pollution may contain a number of factors, most commonly pesticides, nitrogen and ammonium. This study examines the effects of cow and hog production in the state of Montana on water quality over 4 years spanning from 1997 to 2012. Water quality is measured by nitrogen and ammonia levels because nitrogen and ammonia best reflect animal pollution. However, there are a number of different measures of water pollution. Data for this study was pulled from various sources and matched by county and year. Data was obtained through the Environmental Protection Agency, US census data, and BEA data. A fixed effects model was used to conclude that non-point source pollution from cattle operations significantly contributes to water contamination. Hog production was expected to negatively influence water quality as well, but this study failed to find significant evidence. This is likely due to the small size of hog operations in Montana which may not be large enough to pose a significant threat to nearby water sources. More in depth research is needed to fully understand the relationship between hog farming in Montana and surrounding water quality, but this study is consistent with recent findings of literature regarding the environmental effect of cattle operations.