Having grown up and then owning a dairy, swine and crop farm that supported three families before moving on to a different career in agriculture, I know firsthand that today's evolving world, and the agricultural industry has and is witnessing a positive shift towards more sustainable practices, particularly in animal agriculture compared to what it was in the past.

Let us explore what responsible farming is and highlight the remarkable progress made in the past 40 years to address environmental concerns and promote animal welfare. Maybe it is time to celebrate the positive developments and the promising future of sustainable animal agriculture in this area.

Over the past four decades, the agricultural sector has made significant strides in improving its environmental impact. Through technological advancements, innovative practices, and increased awareness, farmers have been at the forefront of positive change. Let us look at a few.

1. Soil conservation: Conservation tillage methods, such as no-till or reduced tillage, cover cropping has gained popularity. These practices minimize soil erosion, enhance soil health, and promote carbon sequestration, mitigating climate change and preserving valuable agricultural land. Remember there are only two major natural industries that can store carbon long term, production agriculture and forestry, and for forestry to do it you need to cut the forest and replant new trees.
2. Water management: Farmers have implemented efficient irrigation systems, precision watering, to reduce water usage and minimize waste. Additionally, improved nutrient management practices have reduced nutrient runoff into water bodies using cover crops, contour tilling, buffer strips, no till, just to name a few. They are all designed to help in the protection of the topsoil and the water quality and ecosystems around the farm.
3. Agroforestry and riparian buffers: The integration of trees and vegetation in farming landscapes has become more prevalent. Agroforestry practices and riparian buffers help prevent soil erosion, improve water quality, and provide habitat for biodiversity.
4. Precision farming technologies: Adoption of precision agriculture technologies, including GPS-guided equipment, remote sensing, and variable rate fertilizer/manure applications, to the specific need of the crop has led to optimized resource utilization, reduced input waste, and improved overall efficiency.
5. Renewable energy: Farms are increasingly utilizing renewable energy sources, such as methane digestor systems, the placement of solar panels and wind turbines, on farmland to power our homes. All of this reduces reliance on fossil fuels, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and contributes to a more sustainable energy mix.
6. Nutrient Management: Improved understanding of nutrient cycling and utilization has led to better fertilizer application practices. Precision nutrient management reduces excess nutrient runoff, minimizing water pollution and promoting efficient nutrient use.

Unfortunately, I have seen practices that were detrimental to the environment in the past and they all occurred on smaller farming operations that are not under the continued scrutiny of a CAFO operation. I do not know of any farmer, large or small, who wants to harm their land or the waters that their land affects. Afterall, they know that their ultimate livelihood is best when the land and water is protected and healthy. Regrettably, all of this is not inexpensive and there is no way that a farming operation that I grew up on would be able to implement these environmentally friendly strategies without the additional animal units to diversify the cost over more animal units and more acres.

Over the past decades animal housing has evolved to provide more spacious and comfortable environments. Confinement systems have been redesigned to allow for greater freedom of movement and better ventilation than farms ever had in the past. This has resulted in reducing animal stress and enhanced the overall well-being of the animals. In addition, farmers have implemented enrichment activities and environmental enhancements to promote natural behaviors and mental stimulation among animals.

In recent decades, the dairy community has reduced the carbon footprint of milk by 63% due to improvements in animal breeding, health programs, cow comfort, and overall farm management practices.

The carbon footprint of a glass of milk is two-thirds less than it was 70 years ago, which has the same nutritional benefits and great taste.

Producing a gallon of milk has 19% less greenhouse gas emissions than it did in 2007.

My question to you is do we want to give up the progress made in the past 40 years? The agricultural sector demonstrates the commitment of farmers to environmental sustainability. By adopting innovative practices, leveraging technology, and implementing conservation measures, farming has significantly reduced its environmental impact. The more we embrace sustainable animal agriculture that a CAFO type of farm is required to follow, we will build upon this progress that has been made, recognizing the interconnectedness of environmental stewardship and animal welfare. Together, through collaboration among farmers, consumers, and policymakers, we can continue to advance responsible farming practices, ensuring a bright future where our food systems are environmentally sustainable, ethically sound, and capable of nourishing a growing population. Let us celebrate the achievements thus far and remain optimistic about the transformative potential of sustainable animal agriculture no matter what the size of the farm.