“They stink, they generate tons of nasty waste and they raise grave questions about the treatment of livestock, air and water contamination, public health, rural quality of life and long-term agricultural economics,” was the opening line of an April 20 editorial in the Indianapolis Star.

As you can imagine, this was not a well-balanced or well-informed piece of journalism. It was instead a one-sided attack on the Indiana livestock industry and a first class example of just how ignorant most Americans are about livestock production today.

Being the largest newspaper in a major agricultural state, one would think the editors of the Star would have at least some concept of modern agriculture; but, alas, they demonstrated they are as ignorant and uninformed as the average PETA member.

Not only did this editorial demonstrate their lack of knowledge, but it demonstrated just how lazy many journalists are. The paper took the position in support of legislation currently before the Indiana General Assembly. They said this legislation was needed to control the abuses in the livestock industry. What they failed to mention, and perhaps did not know, was that the legislation was written and supported by the farm and livestock industry. Rather than an effort to solve a problem, this bill was pushed by livestock producers in an effort to solve problems before they occur.

In a rebuttal letter to the newspaper, Don Villwock president of Indiana Farm Bureau, cited figures that show CAFOS are not a “threat,” as portrayed by the Star.

“Concentrated animal feeding operations and confined feeding operations (CAFOs and CFOs, respectively) are, by law, zero-discharge operations. It‘s right there on the permit from the

Indiana Department of Environmental Management. If there is a discharge, there are punitive consequences depending on the severity of the discharge,” said Villwock in his letter.

He noted that livestock farmers have a far better record than most industries or municipalities.

“In 2006, IDEM logged 130 complaints against Indiana‘s approximately 2,300 CAFOs and CFOs. From these complaints, only 12 enforcement actions were deemed necessary by IDEM – just one-half of one percent. That means that more than 99 percent of Indiana‘s CAFOs and CFOs are in compliance with IDEM regulations, day in and day out.”

Jane Ade Stevens with Growing Indiana Agriculture (GINA) said misconceptions about livestock production are common among journalists and elected officials. She said the best countermeasure is to get these individuals to visit a livestock farm and see first hand the care taken by producers and the technology used to protect the environment.

While local disputes over permitting get headlines, Stevens says most permits are issued with no fanfare or local controversies.

So, next time you read something from some idiot who has never visited a modern livestock farm, remember these key points: manure is not waste it is a nutrient used to fertilize crops; livestock farms have some of the highest environmental safety ratings of any industry; CAFOs bring jobs and significant economic growth to a community; and, finally, those great tasting steaks and pork chops you will grill this summer did not grow on a tree but were produced by dedicated farm families who take pride in what they produce and how they produce it.

P.S. The Indiana Pork Producers organization was intending to spend a great deal of money to purchase a special section in the Indianapolis Star in August to promote the pork industry. I think they should reconsider those plans.

Consumer education is extremely important, but to spend those dollars with an organization that has taken a position against your industry is a poor decision.