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Recap

Recap. Course topics to date: Indiana soils & forest history Water – quality and quantity Soil Onsite wastewater disposal Pesticides BEMP publications What was the focus? You are responsible for the information requested in the Study Guide. Next. A little more on CAFOs Air Quality

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Recap

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  1. Recap • Course topics to date: • Indiana soils & forest history • Water – quality and quantity • Soil • Onsite wastewater disposal • Pesticides • BEMP publications • What was the focus? • You are responsible for the information requested in the Study Guide

  2. Next • A little more on CAFOs • Air Quality • Wildlands & Wetlands • Regulations and Policies • Trends & Sustainability • Note: Final computer lab will be on Friday, November 16 in FS 1195 (Phillip E Nelson Hall of Food Science) • No class on Monday, November 19

  3. Confined Animal Feeding Operations ASM 336 November 7, 2012

  4. Questions • What is a CAFO? • Why are some people concerned about them? • Have these concerns been documented?

  5. CAFOCharacteristics • High stocking rate – economy of scale (highest output at the lowest cost) • Artificial methods to insure health and improve production – antibiotics & pesticides • Modern machinery and, often, biotechnology • Breeding programs to produce animals suited to confined conditions and a consistent food product.

  6. Confinement Operations • Usual species: cows, pigs, turkeys, chickens

  7. Concerns • Lots of waste products • Dead animals • Concentration of animals • Lack of pasture • Lack of movement • De-beaking of chickens (averts vicious fighting & cannibalism) • Confinement of sows in gestation crates (to keep them from fighting)

  8. UK, Farm Animal Welfare Council • Five freedoms: • Freedom from hunger & thirst • Freedom from discomfort, pain, injury or disease • Freedom to express normal behavior • Freedom from fear • Freedom from distress

  9. U.S. Survey • Which of the following is of most importance to you? • Animals properly fed, watered, housed, and treated for injury and disease • Natural animal behavior & comfort • Price of food

  10. U. S. Consumer Survey • Generally consumers say that they want a high standard of animal care, even if prices rise. • They define this as allowing natural behaviors, outdoor exercise, shelter, socialization, and comfortable bedding. • Consumer Ranking • Natural animal behavior & comfort (46%) • Animals properly fed, watered, housed, and treated for injury and disease (40%) • Price of food (14%)

  11. Human Health According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): • Farms on which animals are intensively reared can cause adverse health reactions in farm workers • Workers may develop acute and chronic lung disease, musculoskeletal injuries, and may catch infections that transmit from animals to human beings • Chemical, bacterial, and viral compounds from animal waste may travel in the soil and water • Residents near such farms report nuisances such as unpleasant smell, flies and adverse health effects

  12. Animal Health Confinement and overcrowding • Causes a lack of natural locomotion and exercise which weakens bones and muscles • Can provide optimum conditions for viral mutations and transmission • Selection of generations of birds for faster growth rates and higher meat yields has led to • A high degree of genetic uniformity • Immune systems less able to cope with infections

  13. Indiana CAFO Study June 19, 2009 Research Report: • Surveyed 50 swine and dairy operations in 8 counties (Benton, Cass, Huntington, Jasper, Jay, Randolph, Wabash, and Wells) who have the largest concentration of animal facilities in the state. • At the time (2009) there were approximately 645 CAFO operations in Indiana.

  14. Results • On average, the operators are a young and well-educated group compared to the general farming population. • A majority of surveyed operators reported that they faced little in the way of opposition in the siting process, although some operators indicated their siting process was opposed by individuals or organized groups. • Since beginning operation, 80 percent of surveyed operators rate community response as mostly positive or all positive.

  15. Results – Personnel • CAFO operators make large feed and supplies purchases both locally and within Indiana. • CAFO operators make greater use of hired labor than typical farm operations and wages are higher (average $12.38 per hour, compared to an average farm wage of $8.50 an hour). • Hired labor varies from hired managers to part-time help.

  16. Results - Environmental • Environmental violations by CAFO operations were uncommon. • In the counties in the study, less than 1% of CAFOs were cited for water quality violations. • There was also little evidence to suggest that the size or type of operation predicts an increase in the chance of an environmental violation occurring.

  17. Results - Economic • An analysis of county taxes and budgets shows that some CAFOs generate enough added tax revenue to cover the added costs they create, and some do not. • All eight counties have zoning ordinances that apply to land use • Each county approaches CAFO regulations differently, from • All decisions made on a case-by-case basis • …to… • Clearly defined development standards and land-use zones

  18. CAFO Operations • What do CAFO operators need to do to assure good neighbor relations?

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