Dairy farming, as an integral part of the global food system, has considerable environmental impacts. This article delves into nutrient runoff into local waterways, greenhouse gas emissions, and localized effects on air and water quality related to dairy farming operations.

Nutrient Runoff into Local Waterways

One significant issue with dairy farming is the runoff of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus into local rivers and lakes. This nutrient pollution can cause a range of ecological probl...

Expanded Nutrient Runoff into Local Waterways

Nutrient runoff is an issue that poses serious ecological challenges. More specifically, the excess nutrients from manure, feed, and fertilizers find their way into local rivers, lakes, and streams. This can lead to eutrophication where an explosion of algal blooms consumes oxygen in the water, leading to "dead zones" devoid of aquatic life. Several studies have tried to measure the extent of this impact. For example, the United States Geological Sur...