Factories and Farmers' Markets

We all like to think of farms as tranquil places where calves romp, chickens bob through the grass, and piglets chase after their mothers. But today's reality for millions of farm animals and thousands of family farms is much less pleasant—for human health, the environment, rural communities, and especially the animals who spend their lives suffering in factory farms.

The goal of factory farming is to produce the most animals in the smallest possible space in the shortest possible time with the least possible expense—all to maximize profits. The well-being of the animals is not even a factor in this equation.

Millions of animals never see the sky or stand on soil or grass. Egg-laying chickens spend their short lives crowded into wire "battery cages" too small for the birds even to stretch their wings. Pregnant pigs are kept in metal "gestation crates" two feet wide and seven feet long—not big enough for the animals to turn around—with concrete or metal-slatted floors. The stressful, barren conditions cause neurotic behavior and abnormal aggression—from which the victims have no escape.

Factory farmers routinely feed nontherapeutic antibiotics to the animals to prevent the spread of disease in the overcrowded barns. This fuels the growth of drug-resistant bacteria, which in turn threatens the health of people and animals alike. And the airborne pollutants and sewage from industrial farms can lead to many more human health problems—and environmental degradation.

And the animals, the environment, and public health aren't the only victims. Tax-dollar subsidized industrial farming companies use market pressure to force traditional family farmers into contracts that strip their independence away—and many lose even their land in the bargain.

Thanks to the help of HSUS members and others, Florida's statewide ban on the use of gestation crates last year was a good start in the right direction for pigs—and all of us—but much remains to be done. We are focusing our Halt Hog Factories campaign in Iowa, where more pigs are raised than in any other state, to help family farmers maintain their independence—and more humane farming practices. And you can help fight factory farms by supporting humane and sustainable farming, too. Springtime is the season when food cooperatives and farmers' markets open their doors to sell local, sustainably grown produce. Buying locally grown food supports traditional farmers—and ensures that the meal on your table hasn't travelled a thousand miles to get there. If your community doesn't have a local food system, we'll help you establish one.

For more information on our Halt Hog Factories campaign, factory farming, or our Eat Thoughtfully—Buy Locally program, visit www.hsus.org/farm, or call the Farm Animals and Sustainable Agriculture staff at 202-452-1100.