Agricultural activities account for approximately 10 percent of air pollution in the United States through multiple sources including livestock farming crop production and land management. Livestock operations particularly large scale cattle and dairy farms produce significant amounts of methane and ammonia which contribute to both air pollution and climate change. Fertilizer application releases nitrogen compounds that contribute to particulate matter formation and can travel long distances affecting air quality in distant urban areas. Pesticide spraying releases volatile organic compounds and toxic chemicals into the air that can harm both farmworkers and nearby communities through drift and evaporation.
Crop burning and agricultural waste burning release enormous amounts of smoke particulate matter and carbon monoxide particularly in California’s Central Valley and southeastern states. Dust from tilling plowing and harvesting operations creates particulate matter pollution that can persist for hours and travel significant distances from farm operations. Large scale animal feeding operations concentrated in states like Iowa North Carolina and Texas produce ammonia emissions that contribute to fine particulate matter formation. Agricultural air pollution is particularly challenging to regulate due to the fragmented nature of farming operations and political resistance to imposing costs on the agricultural industry.