Pass the Bacon

by Nicole Bellis

This little piggy went to the market, this little piggy went home, this little piggy had roast beef, this little piggy had none, and this little piggy is under scrutiny for being dirty? The hunt for the pig that does not stink is on. America’s pig, cattle, and poultry farms have become larger and more efficient, but the effects the farms have had on the natural surroundings have been getting worse. The smell of manure in the air and even sometimes manure found in the water are becoming major problems. The smell and water pollution is costing major problems for people that neighbor the farm and property prices are lowering. The Environmental Protection Agency is limiting the number of farms covered by its rules on permits and manure management, leaving some states to create their own guidelines. Guidelines are strict and hard to follow, forcing some farms to close. Livestock producers are also paying for the national study of emissions to help find a way to manage their livestock’s waste. So what are the costs and benefits? Well if you look at it from a neighbor’s point of view, there are no benefits. There are plenty of costs though. Every morning you wake up to the stench of manure, not to mention you get that stench all day long, and in the summer, I am sure it is unbearable by noon. Your main water supply can also become contaminated. People that are affected by these messy farms are starting to sue. The overpowering aromas might even cause the neighbor to move out of his house. The neighbor would benefit best if they never moved next to the pig farm. The farms are not benefiting from anything either. They are now being sued for producing too much waste, but they need to make a living somehow. The livestock industry benefits all of us who eat meat. Without them, we would have to go out and slaughter our own cows or pigs. Since some farms are closing because of strict regulations, production of meat will be less, and it will be more costly for the consumer to purchase these products. The study of the emissions that the livestock farms are paying for could be a benefit towards them though. Scientists are currently trying to lessen the stink by modifying animal diets through biofiltration. So, for now pig farms still stink and the best benefit is to just not move next to a pig farm.