Peterson Farms settlement adds to Illinois River Watershed lawsuit
- mike33692
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Peterson Farms settlement adds to Illinois River Watershed lawsuit totals
Another Arkansas poultry company has reached a settlement in the long-running Illinois River Watershed lawsuit over alleged chicken waste pollution impacting northeastern Oklahoma.
Peterson Farms has agreed to pay just under $1 million to the State of Oklahoma as part of the decades-old case centered on pollution in the Illinois River Watershed.
Nearly $1 million settlement announced
Under the agreement, Peterson Farms will pay Oklahoma slightly less than $1 million. The settlement is part of the broader Illinois River Watershed lawsuit, originally filed in 2005.
The case was brought by the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, alleging poultry litter used as fertilizer contaminated waterways spanning northeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas.
Successor liability included in agreement
Although Peterson Farms was acquired by Simmons Foods years ago, the settlement includes a successor liability provision. That means if the company is reformed, it — or any successor entity — remains responsible for restricting the disposal of pollutants within the Illinois River Watershed.
The watershed supplies water resources across the region and has been at the center of ongoing environmental and agricultural disputes for two decades.
Other poultry companies previously settled
This latest agreement follows other settlements reached earlier in 2026 as part of the Illinois River Watershed lawsuit.
Companies including George’s Inc., Tyson Foods, and Cargill have collectively agreed to pay more than $30 million to resolve claims tied to poultry waste pollution.
Information about water quality protections and watershed oversight can be found through the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.
Case continues against remaining defendants
As of late February 2026, proceedings remain active against other defendants, including Cal-Maine.
The long-running Illinois River Watershed lawsuit continues to shape environmental policy and agricultural regulation discussions across Oklahoma and Arkansas.
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