SUSTAINABLE FARMING

Part I

No topic receives more attention in the press than the term "sustainable farming". The term means something different to each person. The term has become a banner and rally cry for those attacking production agriculture as "factory farms". Certainly no agricultural operation would subscribe to the notion, that what they are doing, cannot continue for years to come. Likewise, no ag operation believes they are abusing the soil or animals or threatening human health. This leaves a wide gulf between two belief systems and creates a natural subject for more in depth exploration.

THE CATTLE REPORT will begin a special series of weekly reports covering these two divergent views of sustainable farming. The report will examine, through real and fictional accounts, some current production methods used in both plant and animal agriculture.

One hundred years ago almost 50% of the people living in this country were involved in producing food and fiber. Today 85% of our food and fiber is produced by 200,000 family farms. Corporations make up less than 2% of farmers in this country and some states prohibit corporate farming.

One hundred years ago household allocated 50% of their budget to food. Current budgets are using 10% of their budgets to food although that number is rising. Food is healthier primarily because of improved handling and distribution and people are living longer. Less food is sold in cans and more food is sold fresh.

This report will cover a wide range of topics from a discussion of the "factory farmer" vs. the "family farmer" to the value of "organic" foods vs. conventional. The use of antibiotics and hormones will be discussed. The value of grass fed vs. grain fed beef will be a feature as will an expose of fraud and misrepresentations present in the current food markets. Some food ideas have become religions prohibiting anyone from questioning their premises with science.

Today's urban food editor has likely never been to a farm. This results in a wide gulf of misunderstanding of the current production practices and the imagined. THE CATTLE REPORT will explore those gaps of misunderstanding.