More at stake in lawsuit than just river, poultry farms

Monday, June 20th 2005, 6:42 am

By: News On 6

LINCOLN, Ark. (AP) -- There is more at stake in a lawsuit against poultry companies like Tyson Foods than just phosphorus pollution in the Illinois River or even the chicken business.

Cattle farmers in Arkansas and Oklahoma say a successful lawsuit by Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson to regulate the use of chicken litter on Arkansas farms could trickle down to hurt their industry, too.

Cattleman Al Saunders depends on chicken litter to fertilize the land of his two farms in the rocky hollows of eastern Oklahoma. Saunders says that if the chickens leave, he'll lose both farms.

Edmondson acknowledges the potential negative economic impact if the federal lawsuit drives out poultry companies. But he says said he doubts they will find a new place that allows them to pollute without cleaning it up.