Factory Farming for the Future Essays

Factory Farming for the Future Essays Factory Farming for the Future Essay Factory Farming for the Future Essay Moon Baby Amy Chaos Critical Thinking: Farming for the Future The United States government should subsidize the feed of animals on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (Cafes), because this method of producing food is efficient, cost-effective, and in terms of economics, is favorable overall compared to the traditional idea of a farm. A modern practice implemented since the sasss, factory farming has revolutionized the meat industry, producing mass amounts of cheap meat with less land space than is needed for more primitive forms of raising domestic livestock for food. Commonly recognized for its industrial approach to reducing meat, the use of Cafes accounts for the 9. 5 billion food animals slaughtered in the United States every year (Cutouts 3). The mass production of such large quantities of meat allow peoples of all economic classes the opportunity to consume animal products and is practical in this day and age. Cafes have become a global phenomenon in the past decades and is on the rise, especially in the United States because of government subsidizing. : The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) supplies commodity based agriculture subsidies based on units of output (Earth. Org). This product based reward system encourages competitiveness between companies and a standard of agricultural production that is above an efficient level, thus resulting in cheaper goods (Earth. Org). The U. S. Government should continue to subsidize Cafes as it currently does, spending $16 million between 1996 and 2002 (Earth. Org). Another cost effective aspect of factory farming is vertical integration, a process utilized by most large-scale companies which mean they control all aspects of production, including animal rearing, feeding, slaughtering, packaging and distribution (Farrell) because it gives the farmer or many more control over costs and creates a more desirable input to output ratio. In addition, factory farming is necessary in mitigating some of the most prominent issues in America, poverty and malnutrition. While critics of Cafes insist that they impact the environment negatively and treat animals unethically, the truth of the matter is that nearly 12 million kids in the U. S. Do not have guaranteed meals or food sources due to financial difficulties (sidecars. Org). Producing nearly 99% of all animals farmed and slaughtered in America (cows, pigs, chickens, and fish), factory farms can souse more than 125,000 animals under one roof (forwarded. Org) and provide a significant amount of sustenance for millions of people. Lastly, in this day and age, farmers are getting increasingly lower wages for the amount of goods they produce. Small family farms have been replaced with large corporations since WI, decreasing by 39% between 1969 and 2002 (Earth. Org). Many factors have influenced this change including a decreased interest in farming, urban population growth, and increased efficiency of farms (e factory farming). The only way for modern day farmers to catch up with this rapidly evolving industry, Cafes need to be implemented. A prime example is Jim Hamilton, a farmer in Wyoming, who reported that in 1979 he charged $1. 10 per pound of beef but in 2002 only received $0. 86. Lower prices for agricultural products impact a farmers life tremendously not to past. Cafes are necessary for the problems and needs of today and should continue to be a priority for the U. S. Government to sustain and subsidize. The elimination of poverty, malnutrition, and the quality of life for many American farmers depend on the institution of factory farming as it is efficient and maximizes profit through mass production.