The Environment and Pork Production: The Oklahoma Industry at a Crossroads

Few current debates in agriculture are as contentious as those that surround pork production and the environment. Large amounts of pork production now take place on huge pork production megafarms, often located in nontraditional pork producing states. Initially environmental regulations of these facilities are usually not stringent, but these facilities are increasingly being regulated by costly and stringent legislative requirements. However, these facilities provide increased employment, incomes, and tax base for local communities. Common concerns are how these facilities should be regulated environmentally and appropriate industry responses. While this case study focuses on the Oklahoma pork industry, the general lessons of agricultural industrialization and environmental regulation have wide relevance.