What Is The Difference Between Factory Farming And Family Farming

1847 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Impact of agriculture

The agriculture industry has changed drastically, from the colonial ages to modern day agriculture. Less than fifty years ago many people still lived and worked on the family farm, and raised their own food. However, many families are three generations removed from production agriculture. So, called factory farms are producing agricultural commodities on a much larger scale. Family farming and factory farming both play vital roles in the local and world-wide economies, while family farms focus on morals and traditions large factory farms focus on the specialization of the products. The economics of the agricultural industry have shifted from the smaller family farms to the large factory farms. For example, the McPherson family natives of Monroe …show more content…

These farms focus specifically on one type of product and how to produce them with the least amount of expenses making the maximum amount of profit. Every farmer’s main goal is to make money and to be the best, but the factory farms are becoming more efficient at doing so. When the large corporations focus on a certain type of product or area, it is easier to be efficient and to compete with the world. Most factory farms raise many animals, such as cattle, swine, and chickens inside a confined area to keep the disease and bacteria under control. The less amount of diseases, the more profit will be available. Although the factory farming is very efficient in numbers, it does strain the natural environment. According to, Evelyn Pluhar scientists have shown that the practice of factory farming is an increasingly urgent danger to human health, the environment, and nonhuman animal welfare. For all these reasons, moral agents must consider …show more content…

Farmers use manure or composted manure as fertilizer for crops which reduces or eliminates the need for commercial fertilizers and chemicals. In factory farming, they have a routine use of antibiotics that help promote growth and prevent disease. Also, due to crowded and unhealthy the conditions routine use of antibiotics in industrial facilities is believed to lead to antibiotic resistance in humans, making antibiotics less effective leaving the elderly, medically vulnerable, and children at risk. Up to 90% of all antibiotics used in livestock

Show More
Related

  • Raj Patel's Stuffed and Starved

    1325 Words  | 3 Pages

    The idea of the family farm has been destroyed by large food corporations. As discussed in class, industrial farming typically leads to the mass produ...

    Read More

  • The Effects Of Industrial Farming By Bill Mckibben And Blake Hurst

    887 Words  | 2 Pages

    After reading McKibben and Hurst’s articles in the book Food Matters, both authors present arguments on “industrial farming”, and although Hurst provides a realistic sense on farming, McKibben’s suggestions should be what we think about.

    Read More

  • An Animal Place By Michael Pollan Summary

    1500 Words  | 3 Pages

    Pollan believes that American factory farms are places with technological sophistication, where animals are machines incapable of feeling pain (368). In other words, factory farms use plentiful of technology where they do not pay attention to animals feelings. For example, beef cattle who live outdoors are standing in their own waste, and factory farmers do not considered that wrong and unsanitary. Hurst alleges that “turkeys do walk around in their own waste, although they don’t seemed to mind”(5). This shows that factory farmers think that animals really don’t have feelings and really don’t care. Pollan also disagrees with industrial farming because he states that, “American industrial farms itself is redefined- as a protein production- and with it suffering” (369). He affirms this because industrial farming cages their animals. Interestingly, both authors believe that animals still die and suffer no matter what circumstances an animal is living. Pollan believes animals should be treated with respect and not be caged. On the other hand, Hurst asserts that “farmers do not cage their hogs because sadism, but because being crushed by your mother really is an awful way to go, as is being eaten by your mother”(6). So Hurst say that he cages animals to protect them. Also both authors believe that there needs to be ways to enrich the soil, so the farms can have bigger harvest, healthy plants, and keep cost down. However, Pollan believes that farmer should use compost. He states that “the finish compost will go to feed the grass;the grass, the cattle; the cattle , the chickens; and eventually all of the animals will feed us” (370). So he thinks compost is good for the farms. Hurst on the other hand, think manure and commercial fertilizer is good for the farms. Hurst spread poultry litter on pasture and this made cattle production possible in areas

    Read More

  • Essay On Farming In The 1920's

    574 Words  | 2 Pages

    The 1920’s were the singularly most influential years of farming in our country. The loss of farms following the war, and new agricultural practices resulted in the dawn of modern agriculture in our country. The shift from small family to big corporation during this time is now the basis for how our society deals with food today. Traditional farming in the 1920’s underwent a series of massive transitions following WWI as the number of farms decreased and the size of farms increased.

    Read More

  • Factory Farm Cause And Effect Essay

    1428 Words  | 3 Pages

    Factory farming is where animals are packed as closely together as attainable, most never see or feel the sunlight, able to get fresh air or even able to turn around. These terrible conditions have serious effects on the animals physically and mentally. Illness spreads and fights break out between animals. This worldwide epidemic known as factory farming began when greedy people began to modify farms to maximise profit for themselves, but because of this, it not only has a terrible impact on animals but

    Read More

  • Black Blizzards

    1365 Words  | 3 Pages

    During the 1930s many families were encouraged to move into the Southern plains and begin farming. This push for more farming and even new methods of farming came from the government’s efforts to get past the depression, produce more crops, and boost the economy. Farming would help these families...

    Read More

  • Agriculture Revolt

    1134 Words  | 3 Pages

    At this time, the machinery was extremely expensive for the farmers to buy. Large-scale farmers were wealthy and considered to be businessmen. These farmers, however, were tied to banking, railroading, and manufacturing. They had to buy expensive machinery in order to plant and harvest their crops. As the rural population began to drop, the farmers who remained were successful in their production (made one of America's "breadbaskets").

    Read More

  • Animal Liberation by Peter Singer

    1078 Words  | 3 Pages

    "Factory Farming: Cruelty to Animals." People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Web. 29 April. 2014.

    Read More

  • Factory Farming

    1119 Words  | 3 Pages

    Like many other industries, the farming industry has evolved into big business, “Animals on factory farms are regarded as commodities to be exploited for profit.” In each industry from clothing to instruments, the bosses want to make a profit. The more they can supply with the least amount of waste, the more profit they make. The same goes for factory farming. However instead of humans being the ones directly affected by big bosses, the animals are. They don’t have a voice, and can’t stand up for what is right or wrong. These animals are manipulated in every way to make a better profit. Factory farms mass produce animals for ...

    Read More

  • Factory Farming Should Be Banned

    554 Words  | 2 Pages

    “People can become infected with antibiotic bacteria from a variety of resources. [such as] meat or other foods. if not properly cooked [and] workers who have contact with animals at factory farms.” (Gale, 2013). The fact that there are chances for people to get sick from their most desired foods shows how bad factory farming can be.

    Read More

  • Difference Between Conventional And Conventional Agriculture

    2223 Words  | 5 Pages

    It is estimated that 37 farmers leave the land every day to pursuit in different field (Herro 2006). The decline in rural farmers is from the consequences of industrialization of agriculture. Only 1 percent of the UK workforce is now employed on farm, compared to 35 percent in the last century (Herro 2006). Many of these workers are being weaved out by better technologies that can do the same work at a faster and more efficient rate. On the contrary, organic farming relies more on people for knowledge, daily monitoring, and production. A study by the Soil Association shows organic farming can potentially provide 32 percent more jobs per farm than conventional farming in the United Kingdom (Herro 2006). However, critics have argued that human labors will lead to higher food prices, which makes the shift infeasible. But while this may be true in developed country, a full scale shift to organic farming in developing countries, where labors are much cheaper than pesticides, can lead to a much higher profit for the farmers. Organic farming attracts younger employees than any other work industry. Currently, the average age for conventional farmer is 56 (Herro 2006). If a full scale shift to organic farming were to happen, it would draw a more vibrant and enthusiastic workforce who are food conscious than that older generations, setting up a platform

    Read More

  • The Environmental Effects Of Eating Meat

    1335 Words  | 3 Pages

    The animals that are raised in factory farms, and the farms are ran just like any other business. According to the article Factory Framing, Misery of Animals, the factory farming industry strives to maximize output while minimizing cost, always at the animal’s expense. “The giant corporations that run most factory farms have found that they can make more money by squeezing as many animals as possible into tiny spaces, even though many of the animals die from disease or infection” (Factory Farming). This is actually quit disgusting that we eat food that walks around in each other’s feces and can attract disease. These animals live a life of abuse, but we sit back and say it’s okay because we will eventually eat them. “Antibiotics are used to make animals grow faster and to keep them alive in the unsanitary conditions. Research shows that factory farms widespread use of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria that threatens human health” (Factory Farming). These animals aren’t treated with proper care and we act as if they are machines. Chickens for example, become so big and distorted that their legs can longer support them. Eventually they die because they can longer walk to get food or water. According to Factory Farming, most of these animals have been genetically manipulated to grow larger and to produce more eggs and milk than they naturally

    Read More

  • Essay On Factory Farming

    790 Words  | 2 Pages

    Cruelty toward animals, huge economic problems, and major health concerns are just three reasons why factory farming should be banned worldwide. Many people argue that factory farming is the only way to meet growing demands for food in the world today. However, factory farming is just not necessary, especially when it comes down to killing innocent animals in order to feed people. A way to put an end to the factory farming system is by buying our food from smaller, sustainable farms. These businesses still aim to profit from their labor, but that’s not their only objective. (The Issues: Factory Farming, n.d.) They simply will not sacrifice the health of the land or the quality of food simply to make a few extra dollars.

    Read More

  • The Benefits of Family Farming

    1367 Words  | 3 Pages

    Family farming has been around ever since there has been farming in the United States. There are two types of farms: family farms and factory farms. Family farms are usually passed down through the family and there used to be many thousands of these farms across the country. These farms do not have to be owned be just a single family either. Sometimes, the farm is just owned by a small group of community members. Yet, still the concept remains the same. Lately, however, they have been replaced with larger, more industrialized farms. These farms, also known as factory farming and collective farming, are actually owned by large corporations and are used for purely economic reasons. The corporations don’t care about the quality of the crop or who gets it. They just want to make the most money possible. Family farms on the other hand actually help out a wide variety of people. Not only do the family farms help grow food for the family in charge, but they also grow food for the local markets allowing them to get healthy...

    Read More

  • Effects of Agriculture on the Environment

    2078 Words  | 5 Pages

    Agriculture has changed dramatically, especially since the end of World War II. Food and fibre productivity rose due to new technologies, mechanization, increased chemical use, specialization and government policies that favoured maximizing production. These changes allowed fewer farmers with reduced labour demands to produce the majority of the food and fibre.

    Read More

More about What Is The Difference Between Factory Farming And Family Farming

Open Document