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Factory Farms

Factory Farms. Are they environmentally, economically and socially sustainable?. Sustainability Triangle. The Big Environmental Problem. Modern Animal Farms are…. … generally referred to by government agencies as CAFO’s or…. Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations.

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Factory Farms

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  1. Factory Farms Are they environmentally, economically and socially sustainable?

  2. Sustainability Triangle

  3. The Big Environmental Problem

  4. Modern Animal Farms are… • …generally referred to by government agencies as CAFO’s or…. • Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations

  5. The environmental problem with CAFO’s… • Too many animals in one place at one time create excessive quantities of manure and urine, which: • Pollute streams • Contaminate ground water • Release toxic gases

  6. According to whom? • USDA • EPA • University Research • American Farmland Trust • Neighbors!

  7. Where’s the beef come from?

  8. Cows to meat…. • Cows are artificially inseminated • Calves drop and live with Mom for 6 months on grass or in a pen (branded, vaccinated, castrated) • Weaned at 6 months and fed corn & meds • To a feedlot at 18 months to be “finished” • At two years or so – goes to slaughter

  9. Beef production…. Environmental effects: • 1) Overgrazing has damaged much of the world’s arid grasslands • 2) Concentration of wastes causes pollution • 3) Need to transport feed and meat costs energy

  10. Cattle are “finished” in CAFO’s Origin of virulent e. coli

  11. Where they are fed grain

  12. Cattle Yards really pile it up... The cow excrement from two yards outside of Greeley, CO is greater than human wastes from Boston, St. Louis, Denver and Atlanta combined. (with no toilets)

  13. What’s wrong with this picture? One “solution” broken into two problems!

  14. Are their alternatives?

  15. Pastured Beef at Hampshire College

  16. Black Angus at Brookfield Farm

  17. This is how ruminants evolved

  18. Pastured Milk Cows in Hadley

  19. They deliver milk to your door

  20. And what about hogs?

  21. How it used to be….

  22. And today…..

  23. Tight Quarters

  24. Hog CAFO with Lagoon

  25. Lagoon Overflow

  26. Runoff from CAFO

  27. Steam Pollution

  28. Are their alternatives?

  29. Pastured Pigs in Belchertown

  30. Why is this happening? • Immediate Cause • CAFO’s • Concentration & Integration Is this socially and economically sustainable?

  31. Industrialization means…. • Concentration = bigger and fewer farms • Integration = consolidated ownership

  32. Less Farms

  33. More Hogs

  34. According to Hog Watch… • The 10 million hogs that now populate North Carolina's coastal region produce 19 million tons of waste every year (52,000 tons daily) that must be reused or disposed of.

  35. Community Response

  36. According to NC State University… • Hog waste contains large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus that are released into the air, leak from waste lagoons into the ground, and drain and leach from fields into rivers, streams, and estuaries.

  37. Is is socially sustainable? • Who suffers? • Neighbors (smell) • Anyone downstream (water) • Farm workers

  38. Hog Humor

  39. A study by the University of North Carolina - 1999 • …surveyed 155 people from three communities: • Near a 6000 head hog facility • Near two intensive cattle operations • At least two miles away from any animals

  40. And the results… • Residents near the hog facility reported: • Headaches, runny nose, sore throat, excessive coughing, burning eyes… • Half said they can’t go outside or open windows on pleasant days…

  41. According to a working mother... • "I feel like I'm raising my kids in one of those third world countries that we see some celebrity on TV trying to raise money for. • It's been nearly four years since I opened the windows of my own home.

  42. Hog Humor

  43. And what about the workers? • Lets look at…. • Farm workers • Meatpacking plant workers • Fast food workers • Poultry house owners

  44. Farm workers & owners…. • Health and Quality of Life Concerns • Economic stress • Suicide rate among farmers and ranchers is 3X the national average

  45. So who benefits? • Those who invest in corporate farming $$$$$$$$$$$$ • And you!

  46. And chickens? • Much worse… • Manure • Finances • Abuse

  47. IMPACTS OF THE POULTRY INDUSTRY FOR THE DELMARVA REGION Professor Raquel Pinderhughes, Urban Studies & Environmental Studies ProgramsSan Francisco State UniversitySpring 2004

  48. Poultry is one of the major economic success stories in U.S. agriculture $

  49. Today 2,500 local farm families produce almost 600 million chickens. • The chickens are processed and prepared for market in 12 processing plants owned by four of the nation’s top poultry companies.

  50. ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION This is a big deal!

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