The State of Oklahoma has reached a settlement with George’s, Inc. regarding claims of poultry litter pollution in the Illinois River Watershed, Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced on January 14, 2026.
“This settlement demonstrates that fair, good-faith negotiations can produce outcomes that serve everyone’s interests—protecting Oklahoma’s water resources while respecting the economic realities facing our agricultural partners,” Drummond said. “George’s willingness to come to the table and work toward meaningful remediation, rather than prolonged litigation, reflects the kind of responsible corporate citizenship I hope to see from all parties in this case. I remain committed to working with all parties to achieve comprehensive solutions for the Illinois River Watershed while preserving the economic vitality of Oklahoma’s poultry producers.”
Under the terms of the agreement, George’s will pay $5 million to the state for remediation and conservation projects as well as attorney fees. The company is also required to remove poultry litter from the Illinois River Watershed over a seven-year period, gradually reducing the remaining amount from no more than 40% to no more than 20%. In addition, George’s will pay $250,000 for a Special Master who will monitor compliance with these requirements. The company has agreed that any litter removed from the watershed will not be applied to land in other nutrient-sensitive watersheds within Oklahoma. In return, Oklahoma will release all claims against George’s.
Last month, a federal court found several poultry corporations jointly responsible for pollution in the watershed and ordered companies including Tyson, Cobb Vantress, Cargill, George’s, Simmons, Peterson Farms and Cal-Maine to finance decades-long cleanup efforts and comply with strict waste application restrictions.
The settlement applies only to George’s; legal proceedings continue against Tyson Foods, Cobb Vantress, Cargill, Simmons Foods, Peterson Farms and Cal-Maine Foods.
