Legal Battles Over Yogurt

In August of last year, governor of New York Andrew Cuomo held the first-ever New York State Yogurt Summit in order to foster dialogue between manufacturing leaders and farmers, as well as promote job growth in the industry.

Notably, the Summit led to the alteration in the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) from 200 to 300 cows, "means that small dairy farms will be able to add to their herd and at the same time be exempt from burdensome requirements that small farms face when they have more than 200 head of cattle." Now, environmental groups are objecting to the change.

Citizens Campaign for the Environment is currently suing the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for violating the Clean Water Act by not properly controlling waste management.

William Cooke, the director of government relations for the organization, commented: "I'm shocked today. I've been shocked for months. I don't understand who thought this was a good idea. I don't understand who thought they wouldn't get sued."

Other groups suing the DEC include Riverkeeper, Inc. and Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter, amongst others.