A new study by the Union of Concerned Scientists shows that misguided federal farm policies encouraging the growth of confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) have shifted billions of dollars in environmental, health and economic costs to taxpayers and communities.

The report, released April 24, shows that CAFOs now produce most of the nation’s beef, pork, chicken, dairy and eggs, even though there are more sophisticated and efficient farms in operation which can offer meat and dairy at comparable costs while using sustainable production methods that do not harm the environment, public health or rural communities.

“If CAFOs were forced to pay for the ripple effects of harm they have caused, they wouldn’t be dominating the US meat industry like they are today,” said Margaret Mellon, director of UCS’s Food and Environment Program.

To view the news release, click here. To view the full report, click here. (Be patient, the report is a long PDF file and takes a long time to load.)

“Many farmers are succeeding when they work with nature instead of against it,” said the report’s author, Doug Gurian-Sherman. “These savvy producers are proving that hoop barns, smart pasture operations and other alternative methods can compete with the massive CAFOs. And that’s despite the fact that the cards are stacked against them.”

To learn more about Iowa Farmers Union’s work to oppose CAFOs, visit the “Issues” and “Policy” pages on this website.