The Definintions

I can't believe it's been over a month since my last post! Where do the days go?? I drafted this post in October. I think I've had enough time to proofread it!

I'm not making this stuff up. I would like to think that a resource like the dictionary isn't biased in their opinions. This is the definition of factory farming, "a system of large-scale industrialized and intensive agriculture that is focused on profit with animals kept indoors and restricted in mobility." (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Factory%20farming)

A Confined/Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation ranks no differently. "Intensive rearing of poultry or other animals for food. These are usually fed on high-protein foodstuffs in confined quarters. Chickens for eggs and meat, and calves for veal are commonly factory farmed. Some countries restrict the use of antibiotics and growth hormones as aids to factory farming because they can persist in the flesh of the animals after they are slaughtered. The emphasis is on productive yield rather than animal welfare, so conditions for the animals are often very poor. For this reason, many people object to factory farming on moral as well as health grounds. Egg-laying hens are housed in ‘batteries’ of cages arranged in long rows. If caged singly, they lay fewer eggs, so there are often four to a cage with a floor area of only 2,400 sq cm/372 sq in. In the course of a year, battery hens average 261 eggs each, whereas for free-range chickens the figure is 199." http://encyclopedia.farlex.com/Concentrated+animal+feeding+operation

This is what the EPA and USDA have to say about Animal Feeding Operations, "agricultural enterprises where animals are kept and raised in confined situations. AFOs congregate animals, feed, manure and urine, dead animals, and production operations on a small land area. Feed is brought to the animals rather than the animals grazing or otherwise seeking feed in pastures, fields, or on rangeland. There are approximately 450,000 AFOs in the United States." http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/afo/

I would also guess that the term factory farm isn't well liked within the industry. If I wanted to be PC, I should say CAFO. While researching the topic, I read Matthew Wilde's article about why he hates the term factory farm (FF). (I research both sides of the topic. I don't always write about why some people support FF because I have so much to say about why I don't support them! I just appear one-sided on the surface.) I enjoyed reading his thoughts. He says that, "It makes it sound like a hog is built on an assembly line, packed into a box and miraculously winds up on the dinner table with a "Made in the USA" sticker stuck to its snout." This statement really spoke to me, "The best way to judge America's view of livestock production is by its spending habits. If Americans didn't approve of it, they wouldn't buy it. There's plenty of protein sources on the market besides meat. And consumption of pork, beef and chicken are way up." I makes me feel like I have made the right choice to stop eating industrially-produced foods. Little did he know that I would feel the same way! http://www.supportiowasfarmers.org/activistnews/fullarticle.aspx?artid=36 Read the article.

And, actually, I would think Wilde would like the term factory farm. At least it uses the word "farm" so people know what they're attempting to recreate. Confined Animal Feeding Operation doesn't create the warm fuzzies that farm does.

My current farm-of-choice really is a farm! (In my definition of what a farm should be-- reasonable number of animals, raised on pastures, not profit driven, loved.) J.L. Hawkins Family Farm (http://www.hawkinsfamilyfarm.com/) is all of those things and throws in a mission and community-base!! They sell chicken, turkey, pork, beef, veggies, cheese, eggs, honey. It's worth the trip to North Manchester, IN to visit the farm! And if you're going to N. Manchester to see Hawkins, then you need to stop at Kenapocomocha (http://www.kenapocomocha.com/). Kena is a community-owned coffee shop and uses Hawkins meat in their food and other locally-sourced ingredients.