Documentary Takes On Poultry Waste

By Emory Bryan, News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Thursday was the Tulsa debut of a documentary film on poultry waste. It's an attempt to change how farmers do business.

The state is suing the poultry industry over the disposal of chicken manure, but the film is directed at shaming the industry into changing right now, and getting the public to demand it.

The first Tulsa screening of the documentary sold out the 100 seats at the Circle Cinema.

The film specifically examines how chicken manure impacts rivers in eastern Oklahoma, as part of an overall look at concentrated animal farming operations.

"And we can clean up that industry in the United States," said Film Director Don McCorkell.

Former state legislator Don McCorkell bankrolled the film, with the hope, he says, of creating a public demand for change.

"If they want to have a healthy and safe environment they're going to have to demand that their policy makers stand up and make a difference," said McCorkell.

"Shall We Gather at the River" shows farmers spreading chicken manure on fields and connects that practice with pollution in the river.

It has plenty of ominous images, with a dramatic soundtrack to help make the point, and it makes plenty of claims that the poultry industry considers to be unfounded.

A spokesman for the Poultry Federation says of the film, "There are quite a few exaggerations out there and I would guess this would follow that vein."

While the poultry industry says the claims in this film are likely exaggerations, the Attorney General, a participant in the film, says it was never intended to be fair.

"And it is accurate, now the industry is probably not going to like it, but the things in there are true and real and that's what's important," said OK Attorney General Drew Edmondson.

McCorkell says he hopes to get his money back out the film so he can make another one, but for now, he's happy with the attention it's bringing to what he considers an environmental disaster.

The lawsuit by the state against poultry producers is set for trial next fall.

The attorney general has asked a judge to order farmers to stop spreading manure in the meantime.

That request is still out there and the judge has not announced a decision.