In defense of modern farming

I must express my extreme disappointment over Karen Dillon’s article “Factory farms under fire” (10/30, A-1). I know farmer Scott Phillips and his family personally. They are solid, patriotic, Christian, caring family farmers who certainly did not deserve this shellacking.

Today’s farmers and ranchers do a magnificent of providing the world’s safest, most abundant and certainly most affordable food supply, using currently accepted production methods. Articles like this will force agricultural producers to ask themselves why they must continually apologize for the job they are conducting.

Sources such as the Humane Society of the United States, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Farm Sanctuary are not “animal welfare advocates.” They are animal-rights activists that actively promote a vegetarian lifestyle. Agriculture is only the low-hanging fruit. Ms. Dillon’s article only whips controversy to feed their money machines.

There is no middle ground of compromise with the animal rightists. All they really want is your money.

Rick Kennedy
Parkville

Comments

[Pub 17]

I thot it was Barry McGuire

[solomon]

"hey , don't forget to say grace".-Rick Kennedy

[solomon]

"I'll have a Torquemada burger with cheese, for the kids an order of ribs from a pig with less than 100 feet of actual walking. My wife will have the veal, I hear its the best in town".

"Oh, and 4 diet Cokes".

[Pub 17]

"Today’s farmers and ranchers do a magnificent of providing the world’s safest, most abundant and certainly most affordable food supply"

I'll go along with two-thirds of that: they provide lots of cheap food. Safest? Only in their press releases, Rick.

[Marctnts]

"Where do "Christian" and "patriotic" fit in this? Is this to get right wingers on their side?"

I wondered the same thing. I guess it was a case of looking for every perceived positive adjective he could find.

I don't get the whole "poor animal" routine. While the level of environmental impact of these types of operations is a concern, I couldn't care less about my future steak or ham. Heck, if they could feasibly leave them hanging in a sling all their life to make sure they're as tender as possible, I'd be great with it.

[Art Chick]

As do the commercial farmers.

I think there are certainly viable issues about these kinds of farms, and how they treat animals.
I eat meat, and probably always will. Not a member of any organization. Just a human being who wonders why farms like this exist legally, when they routinely torture animals, and pour filth into our air and water supplies.

Where do "Christian" and "patriotic" fit in this? Is this to get right wingers on their side? Is it to illustrate what good people they are, regardless of the sickening torture inflicted on the animals on thier farms?
Is it to rally Republicans to thier side?

There's no excuse, I don't care WHO you are, or WHAT God you worship. Torture is Torture, pollution is pollution.
Wake up.