Arkansas
Tyson agrees to settlement with Oklahoma after decades-long poultry pollution lawsuit
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — It appears the decades-long legal battle by the state of Oklahoma against poultry companies in northwest Arkansas over the pollution of the Illinois River watershed with chicken litter is reaching its conclusion.
Tyson and Cargill are the latest companies to agree to a settlement with Oklahoma after initially fighting a December federal court ruling holding them liable for pollution in the Illinois River watershed.
The new settlement, agreed to on Thursday, is a lot easier for Tyson and Cargill to swallow than that December ruling and the uncertainty it created.
That ruling demanded that farmers contracted with defendant poultry companies in northwest Arkansas be closely watched for at least 30 years by a monitoring team led by a special master to assure compliance with strict requirements for chicken waste disposal and land application and assess its impact on waterways.
What’s more, the December ruling would have had poultry companies pay for the team’s work, with initial payments of $10 million into an account and then $5 million more every time the fund fell below $5 million.
Panicking poultry companies, afraid of such a long period of liability and uncapped costs, began refusing to renew contracts with farmers in the region. Some farmers have already found themselves without a contract after being nonrenewed.
The new settlement helps eliminate the uncertainty by asking the companies for one-time payments—Tyson $19 million and Cargill $6.5 million. Some of that money will fund a special master who will ensure compliance with the settlement, but for a time period of seven years rather than at least 30.
For poultry growers in northwest Arkansas, it’s a relief, relatively.
“With the settlement, like I said, we feel a little bit more confident that Tyson would like to stay in northwest Arkansas,” Cheyenne Holliday, a poultry farmer for Tyson in Washington County, told KATV. Holliday says Tyson has told her family that their contract would not be renewed.
But the lawsuit against poultry companies in Arkansas has already done much damage, and the new settlement restricts the land application and sale of chicken litter as fertilizer, an important source of revenue for poultry farmers.
“I think that this is devastating to northwest Arkansas’s poultry industry. Undoubtedly, it’s going to impact the poultry production in northwest Arkansas. Poultry producers not having the ability to sell their litter is going to be hard on them,” Holliday said.
“If our farm was able to get a contract and able to sell our farm for any amount of money, we would probably leave northwest Arkansas. I don’t think that it would be smart business for us to stay in a place where we’re always going to be under the microscope as far as water quality is concerned,” she told KATV.
Holliday and other poultry farmers contracted with defendant companies don’t feel they’ve been treated fairly by the courts—since the lawsuit’s inception two decades ago, they say they’ve taken steps to better protect waterways from chicken litter pollution and say the Illinois River actually meets the original water quality standards demanded by Oklahoma in 2004.
“This settlement does not mean that poultry farmers are guilty of the water quality issue in the Illinois River watershed,” Holliday said.
What’s more, lawmakers say the state of Arkansas has instituted regulatory reforms to ensure it.
“That initiated a series of laws and changes that I was a part of even before I was in the Legislature to try to address this. I mean, the ultimate part is that we have to do things like we have farm plans that we have to go by. These are soil tests, and these give our application rates that we are supposed to abide by,” State Sen. Bryan King, (R) District 28, told KATV. King himself is a poultry farmer.
It’s not over just yet, as the judge in the case still has to approve Tyson and Cargill’s settlement with Oklahoma. And if he doesn’t do that, the December ruling still stands, and it’s back to the negotiating table.
“There is some relief in knowing that there was a settlement and that Tyson was at least willing to settle and not wait for the appeal process to happen, which could have taken several years. But if the judge doesn’t sign off on this settlement, honestly, the settlements don’t mean anything,” Holliday said.
Tyson, Cargill, and the state of Oklahoma have requested a court hearing for March 2, at which time the judge may decide whether or not to approve the settlement.
Arkansas
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Arkansas
Arkansas Athletics, CommunityAmerica Credit Union launch multi-year partnership including Razorback Stadium naming rights
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas Department of Athletics has signed a long-term partnership with CommunityAmerica Credit Union, marking a significant step in the credit union’s growing commitment to Northwest Arkansas. Facilitated by Learfield and Razorback Sports Properties, Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium will become CommunityAmerica Razorback Stadium beginning with the 2027 football season.
Rooted in more than 85 years of helping individuals and families achieve financial peace of mind and building on a 65-year legacy of service in Arkansas, CommunityAmerica is excited to engage with Razorback fans and support the communities they call home.
“This is so much more than a name on a stadium. It’s about becoming part of the Razorback Nation experience and helping fans, students, student-athletes and the communities we and the university serve,” said Lisa Ginter, Chief Executive Officer of CommunityAmerica Credit Union. “Our members are at the heart of everything we do and when we evaluate partnerships like this, it starts with what matters most to them. The University of Arkansas is a powerful source of pride and connection for people across the state and in many of our markets. This partnership underscores our long-term commitment to Northwest Arkansas, where we look forward to growing our presence and helping more families achieve financial peace of mind. We’re already deepening our roots with plans for a campus location and several new branches throughout the region.”
The multi-phased partnership extends beyond naming rights and designates CommunityAmerica as the Official Credit Union of Arkansas Athletics. CommunityAmerica will also serve as an official sponsor of Arkansas Athletics, supporting student-athletes and fans alike. The comprehensive partnership will also include the rebranding of the SEC Club inside Razorback Stadium as the CommunityAmerica Club, where fans enjoy premium amenities on gameday. As part of the agreement, CommunityAmerica will engage directly with Razorback student-athletes providing Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, valuable financial education and programs to help them succeed both on and off the field.
“We are thrilled to welcome CommunityAmerica Credit Union as the Official Credit Union of Arkansas Athletics as one piece of a partnership that will benefit our student-athletes, fans and the state of Arkansas for years to come,” said Hunter Yurachek, Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics at the University of Arkansas. “Our vision in the Department of Athletics is to be our best and CommunityAmerica’s commitment to excellence as a trusted, people-driven financial institution mirrors that same vision. This partnership is just getting started but its impact will help shape our future.”
Beginning with the 2027 football season, the partnership will expand into its second phase with the naming of CommunityAmerica Razorback Stadium and the launch of CommunityAmerica Razorback Checking, Debit and Credit Cards.
With a legacy of serving members across Arkansas and nationwide, CommunityAmerica is ranked among the most trusted and innovative credit unions in the country and among the largest in the Midwest. CommunityAmerica is excited to engage and serve Razorback fans and members more deeply with a variety of financial products and services that align to their passion for the University.
“Our members are proud of where they live and what they stand behind, and for so many in Arkansas and across our shared communities, that means being part of Razorback Nation,” Ginter said. “As we look ahead to launching Razorback-branded products in 2027, we’re excited to offer experiences that celebrate that pride, strengthen relationships and deliver meaningful value for the people and communities we serve.”
“This is a historic partnership featuring an innovative brand with a passion and proven track record of supporting their community, paired with one of the leading college athletics programs in the country,” said Allison Fillmore, Senior Vice President, Business Development at Learfield. “Learfield and Razorback Sports Properties are excited to collaborate with Arkansas Athletics, which will enhance fan and student-athlete experiences for years to come.”
Razorback Sports Properties is the locally based Learfield team that is the exclusive multimedia rights holder for Arkansas Athletics and oversees all sponsorship agreements on behalf of the Razorbacks.
About the University of Arkansas Department of Intercollegiate Athletics
The University of Arkansas Department of Intercollegiate Athletics pursues its vision to “Be Our Best” while developing 465+ student-athletes into Razorbacks and Champions for Life. As members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Razorbacks consistently compete at the nation’s highest levels while proudly representing the University of Arkansas and the entire state. Arkansas has established itself as one of the most competitive programs in the nation, winning nine NCAA titles and over 50 SEC Championships in recent years.
About CommunityAmerica Credit Union
CommunityAmerica Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial institution committed to helping members get on a path to thrive and achieve financial peace of mind. Founded in 1940, and with Arkansas roots dating back to 1968, CommunityAmerica has grown to meet the evolving financial needs of its members. With nearly $10 billion in assets and more than 600,000 members, the credit union is ranked among the nation’s 50 largest credit unions. It is the largest credit union in Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri, and one of the largest financial institutions with expanding operations in Northwest Arkansas. CommunityAmerica offers a full suite of financial products and services for individuals and businesses, including checking and savings, mortgages, loans, commercial banking, wealth management, retirement planning, and insurance. Federally chartered, CommunityAmerica serves members across multiple markets nationwide with branch locations in Arkansas, California, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, Tennessee, and Texas. Learn more at CommunityAmerica.com.
About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.
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