CAFO Case Study Questions
1. What is a CAFO and how is it different from traditional farming?CAFO is a large, commercial, concentrated animal feeding operation. They raise large numbers of farm animals in a confined area for the majority or entirety of the animal's life.
2. What types of CAFOs are in Farmville? How many animals are housed in each CAFO?
There are four CAFOs located in Farmville. Housing 80,000 laying hens, 5,000-80,000 pigs.
3. Based upon what you currently know about CAFOs, what can you infer are some of the issues for each side of the CAFO controversy? What are some of the viewpoints that proponents and opponents may state for and against CAFOs?
Some CAFO issues are positive and negative. Farming is better because it's not cruel, it's healthier, and natural. People who go for CAFOs say it's more "sanitary" and efficient.
1. What did you learn about CAFOs?
I learned that farming is better than CAFO because it is natural and healthier, they raise the animals they way they should be, not in a little cage or area that is dark as I seen in a movie.
2. What are or might be some of the negative concerns with CAFOs?
A concern with CAFOs are the potential economic gains come at too great a cost when put beside the increase in environmental contamination.
3. During your review of the reference material, which references are biased and which are unbiased? How can you tell?
Bias references are for pros, they say that several local businesses would benefit from a “trickle-down effect” by providing more goods and services to the CAFO business, and the meat packaging facility in the neighboring county could also increase production and hire more workers.
1. What concerns and medical conditions have you heard the residents express?
Asthma, stomach ailments, including upset stomachs, nausea, and diarrhea.
2. What do they believe is the source of their illnesses?
They believe the source is CAFO.
3. Should you consider their experiences with the CAFO for your vote?
Yes, I would consider their experience with CAFO for my vote because I could as well go through the same thing so I need to take that into consideration.
4. Using the facts you have learned from your independent research and the concerns you have heard from the residents, what is your current position concerning the proposed CAFO expansion?
I am against CAFO all the way. Although people may think it is a good option, I do not. The illnesses and effects I have read about for CAFO versus the ones for farming, farming would be the way I would go.
1. What are some of the types of microorganisms identified in Hattie’s water samples?
Bacteria, E coli, and pathogens such as Cryptosporidium or Giardia.
2. What are the levels of E. coli in water that the EPA consider safe for recreational use? What are the levels for drinking water?
The EPA only allows for 133 E. coli colonies/100 ml for recreational use and our state recommends no physical contact with water having over 1,000 colonies. Drinking water cannot have any E. coli bacteria present in the water.
3. What are some of the bacteria levels detected in Hattie’s samples?
Some of Hattie’s samples have had indicator E. coli levels that have gone beyond the EPA recommendation for safe recreational use.
4. What is the proposed plan the farmers are considering to help their cause against the CAFO expansion?
They need to be present at the board meeting to express their concerns about the CAFO expansion.
5. If you were one of the farmers, would you participate in the board meeting and/or help collect samples?
Yes I would.
2. What types of CAFOs are in Farmville? How many animals are housed in each CAFO?
There are four CAFOs located in Farmville. Housing 80,000 laying hens, 5,000-80,000 pigs.
3. Based upon what you currently know about CAFOs, what can you infer are some of the issues for each side of the CAFO controversy? What are some of the viewpoints that proponents and opponents may state for and against CAFOs?
Some CAFO issues are positive and negative. Farming is better because it's not cruel, it's healthier, and natural. People who go for CAFOs say it's more "sanitary" and efficient.
1. What did you learn about CAFOs?
I learned that farming is better than CAFO because it is natural and healthier, they raise the animals they way they should be, not in a little cage or area that is dark as I seen in a movie.
2. What are or might be some of the negative concerns with CAFOs?
A concern with CAFOs are the potential economic gains come at too great a cost when put beside the increase in environmental contamination.
3. During your review of the reference material, which references are biased and which are unbiased? How can you tell?
Bias references are for pros, they say that several local businesses would benefit from a “trickle-down effect” by providing more goods and services to the CAFO business, and the meat packaging facility in the neighboring county could also increase production and hire more workers.
1. What concerns and medical conditions have you heard the residents express?
Asthma, stomach ailments, including upset stomachs, nausea, and diarrhea.
2. What do they believe is the source of their illnesses?
They believe the source is CAFO.
3. Should you consider their experiences with the CAFO for your vote?
Yes, I would consider their experience with CAFO for my vote because I could as well go through the same thing so I need to take that into consideration.
4. Using the facts you have learned from your independent research and the concerns you have heard from the residents, what is your current position concerning the proposed CAFO expansion?
I am against CAFO all the way. Although people may think it is a good option, I do not. The illnesses and effects I have read about for CAFO versus the ones for farming, farming would be the way I would go.
1. What are some of the types of microorganisms identified in Hattie’s water samples?
Bacteria, E coli, and pathogens such as Cryptosporidium or Giardia.
2. What are the levels of E. coli in water that the EPA consider safe for recreational use? What are the levels for drinking water?
The EPA only allows for 133 E. coli colonies/100 ml for recreational use and our state recommends no physical contact with water having over 1,000 colonies. Drinking water cannot have any E. coli bacteria present in the water.
3. What are some of the bacteria levels detected in Hattie’s samples?
Some of Hattie’s samples have had indicator E. coli levels that have gone beyond the EPA recommendation for safe recreational use.
4. What is the proposed plan the farmers are considering to help their cause against the CAFO expansion?
They need to be present at the board meeting to express their concerns about the CAFO expansion.
5. If you were one of the farmers, would you participate in the board meeting and/or help collect samples?
Yes I would.