"Why I'm Quitting Tillamook Cheese"

I dont know why, but this post was taken down in the r/Sustainability so I'd thought I'd share it here.

"It turns out that only a portion of the milk that is used by the Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) to make their famous cheeses is produced by cows munching that rich, coastal grass. Instead, Tillamook has partnered with Threemile Canyon Farms in Boardman (Oregon), a factory farm that produces around 2 million pounds (thats 233,000 gallons) of milk per day from 30,000 milk cows kept during the entirety of their short lives in confined barns."

https://www.goodstuffnw.com/2017/03/why-i-m-quitting-tillamook-cheese/

Threemile Canyon Farms, one of the largest industrial dairies in the U.S., has been contaminating Oregon’s water for years—yet they continue to operate with little oversight.

The Problem:

• Produces more manure than Portlands human population - over 165,000 cows generating toxic runoff.
• Nitrate contamination in local groundwater exceeds safe drinking limits, affecting families and farms.
• Classified as a mega-polluter, yet continues to recieve public subsidies.

The Impact:

• Rural communities rely on wells now poisoned with high nitrate levels, leading to severe health risks.
• Environmental watchdogs reports massive methane and ammonia emissions, making air quality hazardous.
• Regulatory agencies turn a blind eye, despite years of complaints from locals.

EDIT:

Oregon Rural Action (oregonrural.org), a grassroots community-driven non-profit, has been actively working to address the issue of nitrate contamination in ground water, particularly in Umatilla County and other parts of Eastern, Oregon.

If you have any questions or concerns about nitrate contamination in groundwater in these areas, I would suggest reaching out to them.

Thank you all for your comments, support & camaraderie!

#SmallFarmsMeanBusinessRallyDay