Find out how factory farms affect all of us:

Farms & Communities

Huge meat companies have steadily driven down the prices farmers receive for the livestock they raise, forcing farms to “get big or get out.” Small farms have been replaced by factory farms that pollute nearby air and water, undermine rural economies, and reduce the quality of life for neighbors.

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Consumers

The meat industry tells consumers that factory farms are modern, efficient, and produce cheap food. But factory farms leave consumers with fewer choices and make them pay more for meat, poultry and dairy products, while farmers get paid less.

Find out how to buy food that doesn’t come from factory farms
Food Safety

Factory farms increase the risk of pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella that cause foodborne illness in people. And bad practices on even a few factory farms can end up on everyone’s plate.
Health

Foodborne illness isn’t the only health threat from factory farms. Overuse of antibiotics can fuel the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the use of arsenic and growth hormones can increase the risk of cancer in people, and crowded conditions can be a breeding ground for disease.

Find out how to buy food that doesn’t come from factory farms
Animal Welfare

Chickens and hogs on factory farms have no access to the outdoors, fresh air or natural light. Cattle on factory farms do not graze on pasture. And the pressure put on animals to grow quicker and produce more meat or milk results in frequent health problems.

Indiana Facts

There are 6 times as many hogs on factory farms as people in Iowa.
There are only twice as many people as factory farmed hogs in Indiana.
The number of factory farmed hogs in Indiana grew by 18 percent to 3.3 million between 1997 and 2007.
The more than 6 million egg-laying hens on factory farms in Adams County, Indiana produce as much untreated manure as the sewage from the San Diego metro area.
In 2007, the Randolph County, Indiana Union-Go Dairy paid a $5,000 penalty to settle a complaint that it discharged manure into two miles of the Sparrow Creek.
In 2008, a Bartholomew County, Indiana hog producer agreed to shutter his operation and pay $7,750 fine for a manure spill that allegedly harmed state waterways.
The more than 3.7 million egg-laying hens on factory farms in Jay County, Indiana produce as much untreated manure as the sewage from the Columbus, Ohio metro area.
The 3.3 million hogs, 71,000 dairy cows, nearly 24,000 beef cattle, 22.5 million egg-laying hens and 4.7 million broiler chickens on factory farms in Indiana produce as much untreated manure as 87 million people — nearly 14 times the population of Indiana.