Perdue Farms and Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay Share Results of Conservation Project
Salisbury, Md. (August 19, 2026) — Perdue Farms and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay have announced the results of a three-year conservation project that helped poultry farmers implement practical, on-farm solutions to improve water quality and biodiversity, reduce emissions, and strengthen farm resilience across the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Supported by funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), alongside Perdue’s investment and the Alliance’s expertise, this project demonstrates how collaboration between farmers, stewardship organizations, and industry can deliver measurable environmental improvements while supporting the long-term success of family farms.
Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, the Alliance worked directly with farmers to identify sustainable practices that fit their operations and long-term goals, pairing trusted technical assistance with state and federal financial support to remove barriers to action. Across Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware, that work translated into on-the-ground improvements, from vegetative environmental buffers around poultry houses to upgrading manure management and stormwater systems.
Over the course of the project, the partnership invested approximately $2.5 million in conservation work, including $300,000 from Perdue Farms, $1 million from NFWF, and $1.2 million leveraged through partners. The effort reached 40 farmers, with 30 moving forward with on‑farm projects, resulting in the installation of 44 best management practices on working poultry farms.
Those actions developed measurable environmental benefits. To date, the project has contributed to yearly estimated reductions of over 15,000 pounds of nitrogen, 900 pounds of phosphorus, and 184,000 pounds of sediment, helping protect streams and downstream waters that feed the Chesapeake Bay. In addition, the project has removed approximately 93.17 tons of carbon from the watershed through plant uptake, enabling improved water filtration and soil stabilization.
“This project reflects how we think about stewardship at Perdue. Not as a one‑time effort, but as a long‑term commitment to supporting farmers, operating responsibly, and continuously improving how we care for the land, water, and communities connected to our business,” said Ben Hildebrand, Director of Environmental Sustainability at Perdue Farms. “By working with partners like the Alliance and NFWF, we’re able to translate that commitment into measurable progress that strengthens both the Chesapeake Bay watershed and our supply chain.”
Perhaps most importantly, farmers embraced the program. 75% of farmers chose to move forward after initial engagement, demonstrating that conservation solutions are most effective when they align with operational realities and long-term farm goals.
“What stood out most through this project was the willingness of farmers to lean in and take action when they had the right support,” said Brittany Smith, Senior Ag Project Manager at the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. “That level of engagement tells us these conservation practices aren’t just achievable; they’re part of how farmers think about caring for their land and their local waterways.”
“We’re always looking for ways to improve our operation in ways that better care for the environment while continuing to be successful,” said Tommy Gearhart, a participating farmer in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. “The support we received made it possible to have more streamlined manure management and use nutrients when our farm needs them most.”
This project builds upon a decades-long collaborative partnership between Perdue Farms and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay to improve the health and vitality of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The organizations view this work as a basis for continued progress, informing future conservation efforts that scale proven practices, expand geographic reach, and extend conservation beyond poultry houses to the broader agricultural supply chain. This work underscores the broader connection between how food is produced and its impact on the environment, recognizing that responsible food begins with responsible farming.
About Perdue Farms
We’re a fourth-generation, family-owned, U.S. food and agriculture company. Through our belief in responsible food and agriculture, we are empowering consumers, customers, and farmers through trusted choices in products and services. Perdue Foods consists of a premium protein portfolio, including our flagship PERDUE® brand, Niman Ranch®, Coleman Natural®, Pasturebird®, and Yummy®, as well as our pet brands, Full Moon® and Spot Farms®, and is available through various channels including retail, foodservice, club stores and our direct-to-consumer website, PerdueFarms.com. Perdue AgriBusiness is a leading merchandiser, processor, and exporter of agricultural products and the largest U.S. manufacturer of specialty, organic, and non-GMO oils. It also ranks as one of the largest suppliers of organic feed ingredients in the world. Now in our company’s second century, we never use drugs for growth promotion in raising poultry and livestock, and we are actively advancing our animal welfare programs. Our brands are leaders in no-antibiotics-ever and in USDA-certified organic proteins. Learn more at Corporate.PerdueFarms.com.
About the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Since 1971, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay has served as the ‘backbone’ for action-oriented impact and collaboration across our watershed. With four strategically placed offices and four focused programs, we’re positioned to solve downstream problems with upstream solutions. Through boots-on-the-ground solutions, technical assistance, and expertise, we prevent pollution where it begins – on the land – before it reaches our rivers and the Chesapeake. By collaborating with like-minded individuals and organizations, the Alliance becomes a catalyst, building the capacity of others to join and accelerate clean water in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Disclaimer
The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and its funding sources. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government, or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or its funding sources.