Cargill and JBS are in the midst of a storm of issues, and ironically, high cattle prices most likely aren’t the biggest issue. From lawsuit education to chicken litter settlements, blows keeping coming for the nation’s largest meat providers.
JBS USA has been dealing with an onslaught of problems this year. Fortunately for the company, the weekslong worker strike ended in the first week of April at their Greeley, CO, plant. According to union representatives, a new agreement meant “all gains, countless improvements, and not a single concession” was given to the company. Local union president Kim Cordova said in a statement, “This is what union power looks like.”
Now that the strike is over, a new lawsuit emerged recently as the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) plans to sue the global giant for air pollution, saying the state of Colorado is years late in issuing federal permits. The group is saying that without appropriate permits, the facility produces tons of pollutants like ammonia, methane, nitrogen oxide and particulates. CBD filed a suit against Colorado’s Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), saying they had not issued a permit and missed the opportunity to crack down on the company. CBD claims that JBS shouldn’t be allowed to operate until the permits are issued.
JBS told The Colorado Sun, “We acknowledge that our permit application was not filed on time. Since then, we have worked collaboratively and in good faith with CDPHE and believe we are meeting all current expectations. We remain committed to providing any additional information needed to support their review and determination.”
CBD has experience in dealing with global meat giants. In December, the group sued the state of Colorado, saying they were 18 months behind in deadlines to regulate Cargill’s Fort Morgan, CO, plant. “It’s critical that industrial agriculture polluters in Colorado are held accountable for their toxic air pollution,” said CBD’s Jeremy Nichols in an emailed statement accompanying the suit. “The Polis administration needs to stop its foot-dragging, update Cargill’s air pollution permit, and ensure the company is reining in the toxic stew it sends into our air.”
In this situation, the blame falls back on the state. According to the Clean Air Act, permits must be reinstated every five years. The last updated permit was issued in 2019. Cargill then applied for an update in 2022 with an 18-month deadline for the state to reissue. That deadline then passed without a permit being issued, so the group went ahead with litigation.
One of the most shocking issues with these suits is who is representing CBD. Turns out, it is the University of Denver Sturm College of Law Environmental Law Clinic (ELC) in both these cases. Students who are working their way through the private institution’s system are provided “real-world experience” by actively filing litigation against companies and corporations. They go after logging companies, meat processors, coal plants and many other industries that they deem is worthy of a suit.
On their website, a promotional video is shared advertising the experience as a way to build their résumés as they enter the workforce. The opening line tells how students have the opportunity to take on real cases. A second alum touts now working with the Western Interstate Energy Board where she claims to advise governor staff, policymakers, public utility commissioners and other interested stakeholders on energy policy.
The website claims the program “deals with a broad range of environmental laws addressing public lands, endangered species and wildlife, water, natural resources, pollution prevention, and environmental justice. ELC students utilize a variety of federal environmental statutes to promote the goals of their clients including, but not limited to, the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Forest Management Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the Administrative Procedure Act.”
Here are two of the world’s largest meatpackers that are fighting law students who are out trying to build their résumés. Groups like CBD who are actively fighting animal agriculture and wreaking havoc on ranches with issues like reintroducing wolves across the nation are essentially using student labor to fight their battles. It’s a peculiar concept to think that a school itself is leading this charge.
Beyond that and more importantly, it appears they are grooming students to go out into the workforce and continue fighting against animal agriculture for their entire careers. A new class of anti-agriculture students entering the workforce with law degrees ready to use systemic lawfare to attack the very people who are actively trying to feed and clothe the nation with the healthiest, most efficient protein-converting animal that also provide over 400 distinct byproducts for the consumer is a daunting thought.
There is definitely a shortage of cows. There’s a shortage of ranchers. We’ve been told for years about the shortage of veterinarians. But no one is really talking about the shortage of pro-ag litigators that we need to defend our way of life in the courtroom, because that’s where the battles are being taken. — LOGAN IPSEN
