US meat and dairy producers who pollute the air and water with animal waste will be let off paying fines of up to US$27,500-a-day in exchange for information to try to lessen future pollution.


The USA’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has signed agreements with more than 6,700 farms in 42 states ranging from small dairy farms to large factory pork and dairy operations. Producers must pay US$2,500 into an EPA fund and agree to let agency-approved contractors monitor the air for two years. They also have agreed to abide by clean air, hazardous waste and emergency reporting laws after the data is collected.