Animal Agriculture

Partnering for Strength in Rural America

“The Good Old Days”

’57 Chevy – a classic

Driven one lately?

“The Good Old Days”

• No power steering

• No a/c

• No seat belt

• No air bags

• Bad gas mileage

• No emissions controls

Today’s Farms

• GPS Systems

• New Production Systems

• Safety from farm gate to dinner plate

Today’s Farms

• New technology

• Safer food system

• Increased productivity

• Environmentally-friendly

Today’s Farms

Agriculture has Changed

• Bigger farms

• Profitability

• Increased demand

• New technologies

• Ethical commitment unchanged

Agriculture has Changed

Agriculture has Changed

Pens with Roofs

Protecting the Environment

• Farmers are the original recyclers

• Manure as fertilizer nothing new

• Sustainable Cycle

• Strict regulatory oversight

• Evolving technologies

• $11 million EPA emissions study

• Good management = minimal odor

“Factory Farm” mythsRaising farm animals in confinement

is cruel:• Most food animals are housed in barns to

protect their health and welfare. • Housing protects animals from predators,

disease and weather extremes.• Housing makes breeding and birth less

stressful, protects young animals and makes it easier for farmers to care for both healthy and sick animals.

“Factory Farm” myths

Raising farm animals in confinement is cruel:

• Modern food animal housing is well ventilated, temperature-controlled, well-lighted, clean and scientifically designed for the specific needs of the animal, such as the regular availability of fresh water and a nutritionally balanced diet.

• A hog barn wouldn't be used for cows, any more than an adult would sleep in a child's crib. Housing is designed to allow the farmer to provide the best animal care.

“Factory Farm” mythsRaising farm animals in confinement

is unhealthy:

• Animal scientists, veterinarians and on-farm experience show animals kept in housing are no more likely to get sick than in other production systems.

• Many would argue they are healthier because they are protected.

“Factory Farm” mythsRaising farm animals in confinement is

unhealthy:

• To prevent illness and ensure that animals remain healthy, farmers take preventive measures -- including the use of animal health products.

• These products are given to the animal in a scientifically formulated feed best suited to the animal's needs.

• All animal health products are approved and regulated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) prior to being given to animals.

“Factory Farm” mythsFarming is controlled by uncaring

corporations:

• 87% of the 2.2 million farms in the U.S. are owned by individuals or a married couples responsible for operating the farm.

• If partnerships – typically a parent and one or more children or other close relatives – are added to this total, 97 percent of U.S. farms are family-owned and operated.

• Even those farms that are legally corporations are generally family controlled. There are only 7,000 non-family-controlled corporate farms in the U.S.

Animal Agriculture Matters

• Affordable food

• One farmer feeds 144 people

• Vast majority of farms are family-owned

• $2.4 billion in property taxes nationwide

• $16 billion in income & sales taxes

• 2.5 million jobs

Your State’s Economic Impact Slide Here

Please include appropriate slide from Economic Impact Appendix

Doing the “right thing”“Proving it”