Rep. David Hardin, R-Stilwell, responded to a federal court order issued on Dec. 26 that placed new restrictions on poultry litter use in the Illinois River watershed, a decision he said could have devastating consequences for poultry farmers and rural communities across several eastern Oklahoma counties.

The ruling limits land application of poultry litter, imposes financial penalties on several poultry companies and establishes a special master to oversee a phased cleanup process. Hardin said the impact of the litigation has already resulted in Tyson Foods announcing they are beginning the process of moving operations out of Oklahoma.

“For poultry farmers in my district, this decision threatens their ability to stay in business,” Hardin said. “These are family-run operations that support local jobs and county economies. Local farmers are facing a real risk of bankruptcy.”

Hardin said poultry production remains one of the most important economic drivers in northeast Oklahoma, supporting farmers, school districts, county governments and small businesses throughout the region.

“When poultry operations are disrupted, the impact reaches far beyond individual farms,” Hardin said. “Rural communities feel it through lost jobs, reduced tax revenue and long-terms economic instability.”

Hardin said the court order comes after decades of conservation efforts that have produced measurable improvements in water quality in parts of the Illinois River watershed. He expressed concern that the ruling does not sufficiently account for those improvements or the progress made by producers working alongside state and federal partners.

“ Env i ronme nt a l stewardship matters and farmers have invested years into conservation practices that show results,” Hardin said. “Any path forward should recognize that progress and avoid decisions that undermine the livelihoods of the people who have worked to be part of the solution.”

Governor Kevin Stitt recently spoke to hundreds of poultry farmers in Adair County, focusing attention on the economic impact the industry provides to multiple counties.

Last month, Hardin sent a letter to the Attorney General Gentner Drummond highlighting the critical role poultry production plays in rural economies like those in northeast Oklahoma and urging careful consideration of how legal and regulatory actions impact farmers, local governments and working families across the region.

Rep. David Hardin, a Republican, represents House District 86 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes portions of Adair, Cherokee, Delaware and Mayes counties.