The article explores how America’s dietary shift towards increased consumption of chicken and cheese has contributed to groundwater depletion in key agricultural regions. It highlights transformations in places like Arkansas and Idaho, where the rise of chicken and dairy industries has led to increased irrigation of water-intensive crops like alfalfa and soybeans for animal feed. The expansion of these industries, driven by domestic and international demand, has strained aquifers in regions already facing water scarcity, such as the Central Valley of California and the Mississippi River Valley. The article discusses the environmental implications of industrial chicken farming, including water pollution from chicken waste. It also raises concerns about the sustainability of current agricultural practices and the need for conservation efforts to mitigate groundwater depletion.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/12/24/climate/groundwater-crisis-chicken-cheese.html