Dairy farmers are under the spotlight when it comes to water use, with consumers wanting more transparency than ever. For producers, managing this vital resource means balancing production needs with sustainability and regulatory expectations.

Tara Vander Dussen knows this all too well. The former environmental consultant and current co-host of the “Discover AG” podcast has spent much of her career helping farms navigate water regulations and sustainability challenges. She has also faced these pressures firsthand on her own dairy in New Mexico.

“Water is literally our limiting resource,” she says. “Conversations about the future of dairy revolve around how we access, use and conserve water.”

On an episode of “The Dairy Podcast Show,” Vander Dussen discussed why tracking and managing water is essential for dairies, noting that sharing these practices with consumers helps build trust.

Tracking and Cutting Water Use

Improving sustainability begins with understanding exactly how much water a dairy uses. Tracking provides a clearer picture of inefficiencies, helping farmers make smarter decisions.

“The first step [to improving water management] is knowing your numbers,” Vander Dussen says. “Through your farm’s permitting process, you can figure out how many gallons per cow per day you actually use. That baseline helps you see where water is going and where it might be wasted.”

A judge in Sonoma County, Calif., sentenced an animal activist convicted of stealing four chickens from Petaluma Poultry in 2023 to 90 days, according to a report by the Press Democrat.

The sentence requires Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) member Zoe Rosenberg to serve 30 days in jail and 60 days through a jail-alternative program, followed by two years of probation. She is to turn herself in by Dec. 10.

Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Gnoss also ordered Rosenberg to stay at least 100 yards away from the Petaluma Poultry facility, which is owned by Perdue Farms.

In October, a jury found Rosenberg guilty of one count of felony conspiracy and three misdemeanors related to breaking into the plant and stealing chickens as part of what she and DxE contends are rightful rescues of allegedly abused animals.

Rosenberg read a statement, not expressing remorse for her actions but for failing to rescue more chickens, according to the report, which quoted Gnoss as saying, “Not once did I hear you say you’re sorry for your criminal conduct.”

As 2025 comes to a close, it is clear that the pressures facing animal agriculture did not simply continue this year — they intensified. From escalating activist funding to evolving legal strategies and increasingly coordinated pressure campaigns, the landscape grew more complex by the month. At the Animal Agriculture Alliance, our focus remained steady: understanding these dynamics so the animal agriculture community can navigate them with clarity, confidence, and resilience.

Many people associate animal rights activism with dietary persuasion or campus protests. But 2025 reaffirmed what our monitoring has shown for years: The movement is heavily funded, highly coordinated, and shifting toward systemic influence rather than calling for individual behavior change.

Activist organizations continued receiving extraordinary financial support this year. In September, we released our latest Animal Activist Groups Web, including a concerning new statistic. Based on publicly available financial data, the groups featured in the web bring in more than $865 million annually — money used in part to fund anti-meat, anti-dairy, and anti-egg campaigns.

We often get questions about where these funds come from. Private foundations are a major player in the space. As one example, Open Philanthropy has channeled millions of dollars into animal activism in recent years, under the direction of staff previously with HSUS (now Humane World for Animals). Since 2016, they have awarded $88 million to “broiler chicken welfare” projects, $40 million to “cage-free reforms” and $40 million to supporting “alternatives to animal products.” Many of the supported grants go toward “operating funds” for activist groups, or underwriting corporate pressure campaigns.

On November 17, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a proposed revision to the definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS). This revision seeks to implement the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, providing long-awaited clarity and regulatory certainty for rural landowners, producers, and agricultural businesses.

According to the EPA, under this proposal, farmers and ranchers should no longer need to hire a lawyer to determine whether a water feature on their property is regulated. The clearer definitions and exclusions allow a typical producer, or a state or local regulator, to reasonably assess jurisdiction without litigation or legal counsel. Industry groups like national cattle and livestock associations publicly praised the proposal, saying it offers sensible, workable definitions and ends years of uncertainty and overreach that threatened routine agricultural activities.

Once published in the Federal Register, the proposal will open a 45-day public comment period and include two hybrid public meetings (in-person and virtual) for stakeholder input.

Why the Proposal Matters

EAT-Lancet 2.0: Ideology Masquerading as Science

On October 3, 2025, EAT and The Lancet published the second EAT-Lancet Commission report, “Food, Planet, Health,” described as a “major scientific update” and a guide to saving both humanity and the planet. This most recent EAT-Lancet report is not a neutral scientific consensus; It signifies another chapter in the ongoing effort to eliminate animal agriculture and control dietary preferences.

The EAT-Lancet Commission is a collaboration between the EAT Foundation, a global food-policy advocacy group, and The Lancet medical journal. In 2019, this Commission released its first “planetary health diet,” a proposed global eating pattern that called for sharp reductions in meat, dairy, and other animal-source foods. Although presented as a scientific roadmap for improving human and planetary health, the report sparked intense debate, particularly within the food, agriculture, and nutrition communities, due to its restrictive recommendations and the assumptions used to justify them. The 2025 EAT-Lancet 2.0 report continues and expands this agenda.

2050 EAT Lancet Goals Mean Real Consequences for Agriculture

The Environmental Lawfare Network Targeting Modern Agriculture

At the end of October, AGPROfessionals team leaders attended the Colorado Livestock Association annual meeting with the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment and the Environmental Ag Program. In that meeting, attendees were informed that the Non-Governmental Organization, Socially Responsible Agriculture Project (SRAP) and their “Water Rangers” were actively taking water samples for their own analysis near large modern farms. This activity by SRAP should catch the attention of producers across the nation. As advocates for our clients, we want to make sure they are aware of this group as well as the group’s connections and activities. Unfortunately, we have seen their devastating impact firsthand, even when their target did nothing wrong and everything right.

A Misleading Mission

SRAP is a group with a name that suggests integrity and stewardship. Despite its name, it essentially functions as an environmental lawfare operation; a network that agitates communities, recruits opposition to local modern farms, and provides pro-bono legal and technical support to activists seeking to halt modern animal agriculture. It is not a group that typically files direct lawsuits as a plaintiff itself. Instead, it actively engages in legal actions primarily through filing amicus briefs in support of other organizations. It also provides free resources and expert assistance to activist groups involved in their own legal battles, such as nuisance lawsuits against modern livestock operations.

Strengthening Partnerships: Colorado Livestock Association EAP Stakeholder Update

Every Monday morning, the AGPROfessionals team gathers to kick off the week together. These meetings are more than just a scheduled rundown; they are a chance for our team to reconnect, celebrate wins, share some laughs, and stay up to date on the issues shaping agriculture across Colorado and the West.

CLA & EAP: Working Together for Colorado Agriculture

At a recent meeting, Miguel Mena, APROfessional's Agronomist, provided information about the Colorado Livestock Association (CLA) and Environmental Ag Program (EAP) Stakeholder Meeting held on October 21st in Aurora, CO Miguel provided our team with a comprehensive summary of the discussions, regulatory updates, and emerging industry concerns.

The EAP is responsible for enforcing both state and federal air and water quality regulations for animal feeding operations across Colorado. Established in 2005 and funded primarily by producers, the program plays a vital role in ensuring environmental compliance within the livestock industry. EAP oversees the implementation of Regulations 61 and 81, which provide the framework for clean water protections and set the standards for water quality assurances required for permitted operations.

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) is proposing to reissue general surface water pollution control permits for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). CAFOs are required by state law to have these permits and the permits are designed to protect surface water quality by regulating how manure and process wastewater are managed.

The proposed permits consist of the following:

• State General Permit – A 10-year permit issued under state authority. It prohibits discharges of manure or process wastewater to state waters, except for agricultural stormwater; and

• NPDES General Permit – A 5-year permit issued under federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) authority. It applies to CAFOs and facilities like manure digesters that process or store manure or wastewater. Discharges from CAFOs are only allowed in rare cases, such as during a 25-year, 24-hour storm event, and only if the facility is in full compliance with its permit.

Key updates in the proposed permits include:

• Extending the state permit length to 10 years;
• Including manure processing and storage operations in the NPDES permit;
• Adding and updating definitions;
• Aligning state permit application procedures with those in the NPDES permit;
• Establishing permit termination criteria for operations no longer requiring a permit;
• Limiting the volume of off-site waste transferred to CAFOs;
• Updating discharge monitoring and reporting requirements;
• Updating engineering standards for design, construction, and operation;
• Incorporating SDSU’s June 2023 Fertilizer Recommendations Guide;
• Moving electronic links to a centralized website; and
• Requiring electronic reporting when available.

AGPROfessionals was proud to be a sponsor of the 2025 Dairy West and Idaho Dairymen’s Association Annual Meeting. This event took place on November 5-6, 2025, in Boise, Idaho, and focused on the theme of "Intentional Impact." This year’s meeting included sessions on dairy economics, market risk, farm safety, and Dairy West's programs and initiatives.

CEO Tom Haren and Idaho Regional Manager Valene Cauhorn manned the AGPROfessionals booth and enjoyed talking with dairymen, vendors, and industry leaders about all things dairy and agriculture.

Specifically, AGPROfessionals engaged in meaningful conversations centered on risk management, the power of networking, and the importance of strong community connections in driving industry growth. The conference highlighted how rapidly markets continue to shift and how innovations such as the beef-on-dairy cross are helping producers capture additional margin in a volatile environment.

Collaboration emerged as a recurring theme, underscoring the essential role of intentional, values-driven partnerships in progress. Throughout the event, Idaho’s reputation for producing high-quality milk remained front and center, showcasing the state’s continued leadership in the dairy sector.

AGPROfessionals is proud to support Ag Women Connect (AWC) and its mission to empower, educate, and unite women across the agricultural industry. This October, that mission came to life at the 2025 Red, White & Blue Gala & Conference in Lubbock, Texas, a celebration of faith, fellowship, and forward-thinking leadership among women in agriculture. The Red, White & Blue Gala & Conference, held October 17–19 at the Overton Hotel, offered a full schedule of activities. The conference brought together women from all areas of agriculture, including farmers and ranchers, educators, college students and new graduates, communicators, business owners, lawmakers, and advocates, for three days of networking and inspiration.

The Conversation on Ag Policy

Representing AGPROfessionals, Karen Gerfen Glueck, Vice President of Communications and Strategic Planning, participated as an Ag Women Connect Advisory Committee member and panelist. She joined fellow industry leaders Kara Bishop, Director of Communications and Public Affairs for Plains Cotton Growers, Inc., and Carolann Romo, Executive Director of the New Mexico Beef Council, for a policy roundtable discussion, sharing insights on agricultural advocacy and policy that impacts agriculture and rural communities. The trio explored how collaboration, communication, and leadership help ensure the agricultural community’s voice is heard at every level of decision-making.