BALTIMORE (AP) -- A closely watched trial pitting environmentalists against an Eastern Shore farmer and poultry giant Perdue is heading to a conclusion.

Closing arguments are scheduled Friday in federal court in Baltimore. The Waterkeeper Alliance claims that the Hudson Farm in Berlin is violating the federal Clean Water Act by polluting a nearby river and Perdue should be held accountable for the actions of its grower.

Attorneys for Perdue said in post-trial filings that implications in the case are enormous for the poultry industry. The Salisbury-based poultry company says if it loses, all poultry farms on the Eastern Shore will be liable for Clean Water Act violations. And companies like Perdue will be considered operators of their contract growers' farms. But Perdue says the plaintiffs haven't proven their case.

Copyright 2012 The AP.