Farmers reflect on fallout from PFAS contamination, demand accountability

Famers from four states met yesterday to share how their livelihoods were essentially ruined by PFAS contamination. They called on polluters to reimburse them for their losses and for the government to step up PFAS regulation.

Jason Grostic’s cattle farm in Brighton was shut down last year after the state detected high levels of PFAS in his cows and feed.

The contamination originated from biosolids – a fertilizer made using wastewater treatment byproducts. The treatment plant had received contaminated water from Tribar Manufacturing, an automotive supplier in Wixom.

Grostic is currently suing Tribar for damages to help with remediating his property. He said he's struggled to stay afloat now, and little has changed since the shutdown more than a year ago.

“They (Tribar) still make their stuff, they still make their paycheck, and here I sit with nothing," Grostic said. "But I got to work my butt off every day to feed cows, take care of babies, haul manure, fix tractors, and do all the things that go along with farming with no paycheck."

The state said it’s testing all Michigan wastewater treatment plants for PFAS and has stopped biosolids production at plants with high levels.

Farmers from Maine, New Mexico, and Colorado also shared their stories about the difficulty in getting justice after facing the fallout from PFAS contamination.