The Benton County Quorum Court approved a resolution expressing strong support for poultry producers in the Illinois River Watershed and urging a return to good-faith, science-based negotiations to address ongoing environmental concerns.
Benton County is one of Arkansas’s largest poultry-producing counties, with the industry supporting thousands of jobs locally. The Quorum Court emphasized that decades of continued litigation have created unnecessary uncertainty for farm families and rural communities and that collaborative, science-driven solutions offer the most productive path forward.
Poultry farmers and industry partners have made significant investments in conservation practices and modern best management practices to protect water quality These efforts have resulted in substantial declines in phosphorus concentrations in the Illinois River, approaching levels recommended in the 2016 Joint Study Committee and Scientific Professionals final report.
“This resolution makes clear that Benton County stands with its farmers,” said Benton County Judge Barry Moehring. “We believe collaboration, not prolonged litigation, is the best path forward to protect our natural resources while sustaining the agricultural economy that so many families depend on.”
The resolution reaffirms the Quorum Court’s commitment to balancing environmental protection with the continued viability of agriculture in Benton County.
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