Farm Shutdown
When “Cheap Fertilizer” Became a Nightmare
Farmers Win Big Prices — Then Lost Their Farms to PFAS Contamination
Across the United States, many farmers believed they were getting a good deal on fertilizer when they turned to biosolids — nutrient-rich products made from treated sewage sludge. Biosolids have been widely promoted as a cost-effective way to improve soil fertility because they contain nitrogen, phosphorus, organic matter, and other nutrients important for crops and pastureland. In many regions, biosolids are applied under state and local permits, allowing farmers to benefit from a low-cost alternative to expensive commercial fertilizers.
https://www.maine.gov/dacf/ag/pfas/pfas-response.shtml
However, what many farmers did not know — and what few wastewater plants routinely test for — is that biosolids can also contain “forever chemicals” known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These man-made compounds are extremely persistent in the environment and do not break down easily in soil, water, or living organisms. PFAS have been linked to serious health concerns including cancer, liver disease, and compromised immune systems.
When these contaminated biosolids are spread on farmland, PFAS compounds can accumulate in soil, crops, livestock, and even drinking water sources. In several states that have undertaken systematic testing, regulators found alarming levels of PFAS on fields treated with biosolids — and the consequences for farmers have been severe.
In Maine, for example, widespread testing revealed farms with soil, livestock, and water contaminated by high PFAS levels. The discovery led state officials to shut down multiple farms outright, and, in some cases, farmers were forced to euthanize livestock or halt production entirely. Maine eventually became the first state to ban the use of biosolids on agricultural land due to these contamination threats.
Similar hardships have emerged elsewhere. In Michigan, investigations uncovered PFAS contamination in beef and dairy products after biosolids had been applied to fields, devastating producers who had assumed their products were safe. The problem is widespread enough that advocates worry that millions of acres of U.S. farmland could be affected by PFAS from biosolids.
Farmers have also pushed back legally. Groups representing agricultural producers in the Northeast have filed notices of intent to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), arguing that the agency has failed to protect farmers from PFAS contamination — a chemical group not regulated in biosolids under federal standards despite their known persistence and health risks.
https://www.kcur.org/news/2024-05-29/pfas-contamination-lawsuit-epa-farmers
Yet while some states have taken steps such as testing requirements or bans, there remains no comprehensive federal standard for PFAS levels in biosolids applied to agricultural land. This regulatory gap means farms can be blindsided by contamination they never saw coming, with grave economic and environmental consequences.
This emerging crisis underscores the need for transparency, better monitoring, and informed choices about what goes onto agricultural land — not only for the safety of farmers and ranchers, but for the communities that depend on their production.
HumanureMap exists to help fill the information gap. By inviting community reporting of land application activity and encouraging awareness of materials like biosolids and humanure, we aim to promote informed decision-making and protect agricultural livelihoods.
Farmers
HumanureMap Is Not Targeting Farmers — We Stand With Oklahoma Agriculture
At HumanureMap, we want to make one thing absolutely clear: we are not targeting farmers or ranchers.
Oklahoma agriculture is the backbone of our state. Family farms and ranches feed our communities, steward our land, and preserve a way of life that defines who we are. Many farmers operate responsibly, follow regulations, and work hard to improve soil health and sustainability.
Our mission is not to attack agriculture.
Our mission is transparency and education.
Why We Launched HumanureMap
Across the United States, treated human waste products — often referred to as humanure or biosolids — are being applied to agricultural land as soil amendments. These materials are regulated, and in many cases legally permitted for land application.
However, growing national concern has emerged around the presence of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals,” in biosolids. PFAS compounds do not break down easily in the environment and have been linked to contamination concerns in soil, groundwater, livestock, and crops in several states.
In Maine, Michigan, and other regions, farmers themselves have suffered devastating consequences after PFAS contamination was discovered on land where biosolids had been applied. In some cases, farms were shut down. Milk was discarded. Land values were impacted. Generational operations were placed at risk.
Those farmers were not villains.
They were victims of incomplete information.
That is precisely why HumanureMap exists.
This Is About Awareness, Not Blame
We believe Oklahoma farmers deserve full transparency about what materials are being applied to land and what long-term impacts may exist.
We believe neighbors deserve to know what is happening in their communities.
We believe policymakers should have accurate data to make informed decisions.
HumanureMap is a public documentation tool. It allows users to report and view land application activity in a centralized, transparent way. Reports are moderated and focused on location, timing, and material type — not personal attacks or accusations.
We are not anti-farmer.
We are pro-information.
Protecting Oklahoma’s Agricultural Future
Oklahoma agriculture should not be placed at risk by incomplete data or emerging contaminants that may not yet be fully understood.
Farmers deserve:
- Clear testing standards
- Transparent reporting
- Protection from unintended contamination
- Policies based on sound science
Communities deserve:
- Open access to information
- Honest dialogue
- Responsible environmental stewardship
HumanureMap supports informed decision-making, voluntary transparency, and constructive discussion.
We encourage farmers, ranchers, researchers, and community members to participate in good faith. By documenting activity and sharing accurate information, we can ensure that Oklahoma remains both agriculturally strong and environmentally responsible.
This is not about division.
This is about awareness.
For more information or to participate, visit:
HumanureMap.com