On Wednesday, The Washington, D.C.-based Pew Environment Group released a report titled, “Big Chicken: Pollution and Industrial Poultry Production in America” that called for the changes, “especially in areas without alternatives to managing the animal waste.”

The report by the nonprofit advocacy group also calls for the reduction in usage of chicken litter as fertilizer, claiming the excessive nutrients are polluting waterways such as the Chesapeake Bay and others.

The Delmarva Poultry Industry’s response cites numerous steps poultry producers on the peninsula have taken over the last few years to protect the environment and region’s waterways.

“The Pew report contains little new information and shows that Pew is not aware of the many positive steps taken by Delmarva’s chicken community in the last decade or longer,” the rebuttal states. “Delmarva’s chicken companies and growers are moving forward on new ways to minimize their environmental footprint and have a strong, positive record of accomplishments.”

Source: Delmarva Poultry Industry (www.dpichicken.org) and DelmarvaNow.org.