Petruzzi 1

Maddison Petruzzi 4/6/14 WP3 ENG 102 Professor Gerchick

The Grass is Greener on the Smaller Side

A researched argu ent on the effect of industria! agricu!ture

"ndustria! agricu!ture is cra##$ situation% &e see

to kee# s&e#t under the rug'

As a resu!t of factor$ far s raising an esti ated 1'2 (i!!ion catt!e% e)er$ $ear &e re!ease a(out *'* i!!ion etric tons of ethane into the at os#here' A sustaina(!e far ing

o)e ent &ou!d

ake the +, and so e #arts of the &or!d% a hea!thier% ha##ier% and a

uch !ess s e!!$ #!ace' "f &e re#!aced a!! !arge cor#orate food #roduction co #anies &ith an$ sustaina(!e far s dis#ersed throughout the countr$% &e can change our ost used and ost ost

countr$-s attitude to&ards food' "ndustria! far ing has (eco e the efficient &a$ to feed the ouths of the asses fro

a cost effecti)e stand #oint' .o

#eo#!e cost can (e a dea! (reaker on

ost!$ e)er$thing% hea!th shou!d not (e

co #ro ised for the fee!ing of a hea)$ &a!!et' We-)e (eco e de#endent on con)enience and chea# #rices so as#ect kno&n as /ua!it$' uch so &e ha)e forgotten a(out an e)en greater

Livestock Treatment and Effects 0actor$ far ing% or as so e ca!! 1industria! far ing2 is the ost #ro inent t$#e of

far ing there is' At the !o& (udget% high )o!u e rate% the$ are a(!e to raise !i)estock in !arge nu (ers in a s a!! s#ace' ,o e sa$ this is an inhu ane &a$ of going a(out it (ut
My audience is government officials who support factory farming, along with peers uneducated on the effects this food production system creates.

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this is ho& the #o#u!ation is fed econo ica!!$ in the +nited ,tates' .he$ are a(!e to gi)e 3ust enough care to the ani a!s to (e a(!e to ha)e an edi(!e #roduct in the future' .here is a !ot of contro)ers$ &ith the treat ent of the ani a!s (ut &ithout the fruga! care of the ani a!s the #rices of the #roduct &ou!d increase and (e unreacha(!e to co on

citizens' M$randa Grecinger in 40actor$ 5, 0ree 6ange 0ar ing-% descri(es the !i)ing conditions of the factor$ far inc!uded a &indo&!ess roo .o ani a!s% 1forced to !i)e in c!austro#ho(ic conditions that &ith standing roo on!$'2'

ake sure !i)estock are ke#t &e!! enough to gro& and #roduce and

re#roduce% far ers ad inister 20 (i!!ion #ounds of anti(iotics to ani a!s in the +, a!one' .hat is 708 of a!! anti(iotics used in the countr$' .hough !i)estock consu e anti(iotics to kee# as hea!th$ as #ossi(!e% it #rett$ the treat ent of uch sto#s there &hen it co es to

ass !i)estock' 9roi!er chickens are raised and ke#t in confined s#aces

&ith u# to 40%000 other (irds' ' .he #ou!tr$ are on a regu!ar dose of drugs to s#eed u# their gro&th to t&ice the size% in ha!f of the ti e' Pou!tr$ ha)e e)en (een genetica!!$ odified to ha)e !arger (reasts% that &eigh the do&n' :0ood "nc'; 9ecause of ho&

!arge the$ get so fast so e &i!! die of heart attacks or their !ungs co!!a#se' "n such a cro&ded% &indo&!ess &arehouse% <08 of the (irds suffer in3uries or !oss of !i ( usage fro their o&n &eight and other chickens' =nce #ou!tr$ is ki!!ed the effects of #oor treat ent are not o)er' .he anti(iotics that are gi)en to our #ou!tr$ then carr$ drug>resistant transfer into the (acteria &e a!read$ ha)e% aking it icro(es into our sto ach and ore !ike!$ for us to get sick &ith

diseases &e ha)e a!read$ had and treated for' ?hickens are not the on!$ )icti s &ithin industria! far ing' <08 #ercent of #igs in the +, toda$ are in a factor$ far % and <08 of

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those #igs end u# ki!!ed &ith or after ha)ing #neu onia' Most #igs a!so ha)e their tai!s cut off due to fighting% or are inse inated unti! the$ are una(!e to re#roduce an$ ore' M,P?A @Massachusetts ,ociet$ for the Pre)ention of ?rue!t$ to Ani a!sA% states that an a)erage co& #roduces 100 ga!!ons of i!k in a da$ due to the genetic ani#u!ation and

a 9o)ine Gro&th Bor one' "n addition% (ut

other co&s are so eti es re>i #regnated i!k fro each co&% the$ co on!$

to continue !actating' Cue to the high #roduction of suffer fro

astitis and (acteria! infections in their udders'

Environmental and Health Effects of Industrial Farming An$one &ho !i)es near a factor$ far is (reathing in !oads of gases fro deco #osed

anure' .hese gases can contain har fu! che ica!s' .he$ are a!so ca#a(!e of conta inating drinking &ater and ground &ater has (een found to increase the risk of (!ue (a($ s$ndro e% &hich is a condition &here there is not enough oD$gen in (a(iesorgans and ce!!s that can !ead to death if untreated' .he chances of E' ?o!i out(reaks are uch ore co on &ith corn fed catt!e than grass>fed catt!e due to the fact the

co&-s 4sto achs cannot #rocess a #ri ar$ corn diet the sa e as grass% creating corn E' ?o!i (acteriu '- :WB=; Not on!$ does it hurt the co&% (ut the (acteria can (e s#read into run offs and ri)ers' .here ha)e (een cases of E' ?o!i (eing found in s#inach and e)en a##!e 3uice' A !arge contri(utor to the chea#ness of factor$ far ing is feeding ani a!s a corn (ased diet' ?orn is an eas$ and cost effecti)e cro# to gro&' "n this generation &e ha)e !earned the a(i!it$ to change corn in a !a( and find on food !a(e!s such as% ake it into u!titudes of che ica!s $ou onosodiu g!uta ate

a!todeDtrin% fructose s$ru#s% and

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@M,GA' Not on!$ does this not a!&a$s digest &e!! &ith the % (ut it doesn-t digest &e!! &ith us either' Ba)ing our foods% #re ade or factor$ far ed% and cha!ked fu!! of corn and other fat inhi(iting su(stances is not (enefiting our hea!th% its increasing the chance of o(esit$ and dia(etes' Cid $ou kno& that 1 in 3 A ericans (orn after 2000 are diagnosed dia(eticE :0ood "nc'; .his is (ecause of the &a$ &e are creating our foods' "f &e &ere raising and gro&ing our food the right &a$% and not the /uick and eas$ &a$% &e &ou!d not (e fighting the o(esit$ e#ide ic &e are' "ndustria! onocro#s are usua!!$ kno&n for using #esticides% ferti!izers and other odified )egeta(!es' .his can ruin soi!% de#!eting it of

che ica!s to create genetica!!$

an$ nutrients and endangering &orkers% near($ neigh(ors and of course the consu er' 6eusing the sa e soi! o)er and o)er for the sa e cro# does not he!# to i #ro)e &hen o)ing for&ard in our food #roduction' "ndustria! cro# far s !ose (iodi)ersit$% aking it

ore !ike!$ to ha)e a #est or fungicide infestation' According to sustaina(!eta(!e'org% 708 of the &ater used in the +, is for agricu!ture and ost ti es taken fro the ground

and is not re#!enish a(!e' "ntensi)e &ater use can a!so !ead to sa!inzation and further contri(uting to Mistakes assi)e soi!/!and !oss' ade in industria! far ing can cause assi)e!$ hurt the en)iron ent'

.here are Fagoons near factor$ far s (eco e o#en #its fi!!ed &ith ani a! secretions% &aste &ater and can (e se)era! acres !arge' ,#ra$fie!ds he!# ferti!ize #!ants &ith said anure% (ut if said !agoon o)erfi!!s or ru#tures there is a !arge chance of a assi)e fish

ki!! and !oca! drinking &ater conta ination' .here-s a reason it is not safe to dea! &ith too uch anure% (ecause there shou!dn-t (e a reason for a ass #o#u!ation of

!i)estock raised in such a confined s#ace'

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Economic Effects of Industrial Farming A (ig fau!t$ genera!ization that #eo#!e consu er &ou!d (e #a$ing a !ot ake a(out s a!! far #roduction is that the

ore' .hat disad)antage is the !ack of s a!! far s' arkets' "t is not ore

6ight no&% &e &ou!d not (e a(!e to re!$ #ri ari!$ on 3ust neigh(orhood

#ossi(!e to feed our countr$ in 3ust that &a$' 9ut% as s a!! far s #rogress and creati)e &a$s of gro&ing esta(!ish% it cou!d (e the do inate% and

ost con)enient &a$

to get our fresh fruits and )egeta(!es' Not on!$ &ou!d it i #ro)e our hea!th% it &ou!d he!# out our &a!!et' Foca! sustaina(!e far ing &ou!d !o&er the cost of #roduct due to the decrease in one$ s#ent in distri(ution and storing% and a!ong &ith #a$ing #eo#!e to do

those 3o(s' 0or fresh% !oca!!$ gro&n/raised food to (e a)ai!a(!e to #eo#!e in )arious regions of the +nited ,tates &ou!d ean a nation&ide !ifest$!e change' eat and dair$ in grocer$ stores and fast

6ight no&% &e see the chea# #rices of

food restaurants and think that the #rice cou!dn-t (e (etter' What is hidden is the cost of hea!th and en)iron enta! detri ents as a resu!t of the #rice tag' .he on!$ reason the #rices !ook so decent is (ecause it-s fro our 1 eat2 one of fe& !arge far s that ass #roduces inuscu!e

aking &hate)er it rea!!$ is $ou-re eating and $ourse!f 3ust a

fraction in the food industr$' Wou!dn-t $ou &ant to (e and &here it ca e fro E "nstead of s#ending

ore a&are of &hat $ou-re eating

one$ on trans#ortation to distri(ute cro# and #roduct to

e)er$one in the +,% &h$ not ha)e a dis#erse of s a!! far s in c!ose reach to to&ns and u!ti#!e far s c!ose to a3or #o#u!aces' "n other &ords% instead of dri)ing to a store ass #roduced% #ackaged and shi##ed fro far a&a$ >

fi!!ed &ith things that ha)e (een

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go to the actua! source' 9$ e!i inating distri(ution and sustaina(!e far s &ou!d (e as to a a&a$' ,o e

ass

anufacturing costs% s a!!

ost !ike!$ (e a(!e to se!! #roduct at the sa e or !o&er rate onocro# and is a 3 da$ !ong dri)e

ass #roduced% &ide>kno&n (rand that-s a

a$ sa$ in !arge cities &ith !itt!e to no !and for agricu!ture &ou!d (e an o)e ent' 9ut% far ing doesn-t 3ust

eDce#tion to the #ossi(i!it$ of a sustaina(!e far

consist of !arge #!ots of !and and a tractor' +r(an far ing that takes #!ace in a su(ur(an or cit$ area that ha)e found inno)ati)e &a$s to use the s#ace the$ ha)e to #roduce #roduct for the !oca! #o#u!ation' .his is a ne& and definite!$ gro&ing trend ha##ening throughout the +nited ,tates' Not on!$ does it #ro)ide the con)enience of fresh food near $ou (ut it he!#s integrate #!ants and oD$gen creating #!ants into the (us$% ce ent cit$ !ife' .here are #!ent$ of si #!e &a$s $ou can gro& $our o&n garden' "f $ou !i)e in a !arge cit$ &ith no (ack$ard% there are such things as to&er gardens% &ith s a!! )ertica! #ockets for #!ants and can e)en (e &atered and treated e!ectronica!!$' =r $ou can go the si #!er route &ith an a(o)e or in ground garden' Gu a% Arizona ha##ens to (e the &inter )egeta(!e gro&ing ca#ita! of the $ear% &here the$ #ro)ide <08 of the nation-s !ettuce through the onths of No)e (er to March' :arizonaeD#erience'org; Fettuces are onth!$ food (i!!'

an incredi(!$ eas$ and chea# #!ant to gro& &hich can he!# !o&er $our

.here are a!so such things as greenhouses% &hich are !arger (ui!dings &ith a contro!!ed en)iron ent ade u# of &indo&s' .hese are great for gro&ing fruits and )egeta(!es out odified to ato in Hanuar$'

of season% instead of going to the store to get a genetica!!$

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.here are current!$ need of a

an$ f!a&s in our far

to ta(!e s$ste

and the +, is in

a3or

a3or food industr$ face !ift' "t is ti e to gro& our inno)ati)e ideas into e)en

(igger actions than used no&' ?on)enience is o)errated and it is ti e to #ut focus (ack on &hat rea!!$ atters &hich is the /ua!it$ of food that can gi)e us a /ua!it$ !ife' Iuick

fiDes and eD#anding #roduction are not the ans&ers an$ ore' We-)e (een #utting (and>aids on a dee# &ound and it-s ti e to sto# and take actua! care of this #ro(!e ' "f &e &ere a(!e to s!o&!$ sto# #roduction at these industria! far s and (egin to de#end ore on !oca! far ers' .his &ou!d not on!$ he!# our hea!th and en)iron ent (ut gi)es out ore 3o( o##ortunities' "nstead of ha)ing our food (e a cor#orate one$ aking

ga e% !et-s co

ake it a #ersona! affair' What &e eat shou!d not (e hand!ed as a

odit$ (ut as #art of us'

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Work ?ited A'5' Jre(s% .he ?or#orate 6ea#ers% A##endiD ?% K.he NationLs 100 Fargest 0ar s%K Essentia! 9ooks% 1<<2' K?A0= > .he .raged$ of "ndustria! Ani a! 0actories MM .he 9ook% M$ths'K?A0= > .he .raged$ of "ndustria! Ani a! 0actories MM .he 9ook% M$ths' N'#'% n'd' We(' 12 A#r' 2014' ?onners% Henn$' K?orn A!!ergen Fist'K > ?orn A!!ergens' N'#'% n'd' We(' 03 A#r' 2014' 0ood% "nc' Cir' 6o(ert Jenner' Mo)ie =ne% 2007' Netf!iD'co ' KG6A?E ?o unications 0oundation'K G6A?E ?o n'd' We(' 06 A#r' 2014' unications 0oundation' N'#'%

KBidden ?osts of "ndustria! Agricu!ture'K +nion of ?oncerned ,cientists' N'#'% n'd' We(' 0* A#r' 2014' KBo& 0actor$ 0ar s " #act Gou'K 0actor$ 0ar Ma#' N'#'% n'd' We(' 0N A#r' 2014'

M$randa Grecinger' K0actor$ 5, 0ree 6ange 0ar ing'K Bu(Pages' N'#'% n'd' We(' 12 A#r' 2014' ,' , ith% K0ar ing >> "tLs Cec!ining in the +,%K ?hoices% 7>11% @1<<2A' ,ch!osser% Eric' 0ast 0ood NationM .he Cark ,ide of the A!!>A erican Mea!' 9ostonM Boughton Miff!in% 2001' Print' K.he Arizona ED#erience > Fandsca#es% Peo#!e% ?u!ture and E)ents'K .he Arizona ED#erience' N'#'% n'd' We(' 12 A#r' 2014' K.he "nternationa!'K Are 0actor$ 0ar s "nherent!$ +nsustaina(!eE .he En)iron ent at 6isk O' N'#'% n'd' We(' 0N A#r' 2014' +,' Ce#art ent of Agricu!ture' 200N ?ensus of Agricu!ture' N'#'% n'd' We(' 4 A#r' 2014' KWater>re!ated Ciseases'K WB=' N'#'% n'd' We(' 03 A#r' 2014' 0or 0urther FearningM htt#sM//&&&'diigo'co /!ist/ addison#etruzzi/ENG102/3*rts032<