APRIL 3, 2006
Put
a chicken, hog, or cow in a confined space and bingo maximize profits, minimize risk, and to heck with everything else. We have just defined how we raise the animals we eat today. Factory farming is the definition that brings to mind the assembly line production model, and that is exactly how we farm.
There are a few range fed operations, or sustainable animal farming operations around the country, but the majority of bacon, chicken wings, and burgers come off of animals fed and slaughtered in enormous factories that are polluting the air and water in many states.
At what price success is often a legitimate question to ask of anyone. We all know successful business persons who have been miserable at marriage, or parenting or life in general; so we ask, and they often ask, at what price material well-being?
We must raise the same concern over the bigger is better agricultural policy because the un-intended consequences of, too many hogs or cattle in one place is impacting all of our lives. We see:
- high concentrations of methane
- extraordinarily high piles of waste
- the compromising of the local water delivery systems
- foul air for miles
Why have the large agri-business companies moved out to the middle of nowhere in our country if their operations are benign or neutral? The answer is simply put out of sight out of mind. However, drift and storms have brought the problems to the common citizen and many communities are now fighting the huge feedlot operations with as much intensity as they are fighting the big box stores like Wall-Mart etc.
Everyone is entitled to earn a living and corporations are certainly capable of generating a return on investment for their shareholders, but not at the expense of the health of millions. Years ago it took one courageous congressman to stand up to big tobacco. Henry Waxman, practically single handedly, forced the tobacco giants to change their ways. It is time for someone to rise up and hold a mirror to the head of Swift, Cargill, Monsanto, and others in the agricultural world.
--Peter