by Patricia Stewart

Created on: December 28, 2008

Unfortunately, I don't ever see an "end" to factory farming. There will always be a need for "bottom line" food, that which is chosen strictly because it is the cheapest to purchase. For those who can't afford more, can't grow their own food, or have other demands upon their resources, by sheer number, there will need to be a way to keep cheap food available.

That doesn't mean I think it's the right thing to do, nor that I think it should be easy to keep animals that way. The environmental cost of such operations is borne by everyone in their bioregion, even those who choose to stay away from their products. There are people who can not see animals as having any souls, emotions or value as living creatures, or they could not do the only job they know how to do. Agricultural corporations will do whatever they need to do to keep such people reliant on them for contracts and sales.

We need to also keep stringent regulations on these operations so they don't slip furthern down the slippery slope into all out abuse, purely to keep costs down. This means having agricultural agents that are knowledgeable about animal welfare and the alternatives to such dastardly practices as manure lagooning, battery cages and tie stall confinement dairy farming.

But, we can minimize the numbers of "factory farms," by enabling local, sustainable farms; by encouraging people to grow their own food or support CSA and other operations who will grow it for them with environmental benefits that outweigh the costs. We can also minimize these numbers by making it more attractive, financially, for them to use more humane practices, and educate consumers so that they eventually understand that the healthier food does cost more, and they pay for "cheap food," with higher medical costs down the road.

We also need to let the price of food truly reflect the cost of raising it, so that subsidies no longer act as incentives to cut corners. When "cheaper practices" are used, the initial cost to the farmer may be cheaper, but so is his wholesale price. In exchange, he often has remediation prices that are not carried by the buyer, such as lagoon repair, veterinary bills and compromised milk contracts because of illegal use of antibiotics. In contrast, while it may take longer to contour plant, or keep buffer zones around water ways, the price of pure water is invaluable to everyone.

The other thing that must happen is that consumers truly understand what is needed to farm, so that sustainable, humane operations do not get labeled as "cruel," or "abusive," because they use practices that are more available to farm without added costs. There are many activities that are done routinely on a farm that appear to be cruel, unless you consider the alternatives. Attention needs to be focused on those farms that are not looking the animal's best welfare, but are putting all their energies into efficiency and affordability. Every farmer must balance these issues all the time, but the true "factory farms," don't figure animal welfare into their decision-making process, only keeping the cost of each animal to its bare minimum, maximizing profit.

Just as there will always be poverty, there needs to be available choices for those afflicted by it. While it's a choice I disdain, having cheap "factory raised food," should be available, but along with it, the freedom of choice for its alternatives. That way people truly have the freedom, and knowledge to choose wisely.

Learn more about this author, Patricia Stewart.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.