The New York Times recently reported that Ohio farmers have reached an agreement with the Humane Society of the United States to ban the construction of egg farms that pack birds into cages and to phase out tight caging of pregnant sows within 15 years and of veal calves by 2017.
Farmers said the agreement was made because of increased consumer preference for more natural products. The Dispatch story focuses on egg production. Ohio is the second largest egg producer in the United States.
This is a celebrated and somewhat monumental agreement, considering the battle between large-scale farms and animal rights activists has lasted for decades both in the region and across the U.S.
But Ohio is not the only place where controversy exists over the confinement of livestock. Consumers and activists have scrutinized large scale farming in other Great Lake states. A story I reported last year showed that Michigan has 230 Confined Animal Feeding Operations producing beef, poultry, pork and eggs. Known as CAFOs, the federal government defines these farms by the number of days the animals are confined and their access to vegetation.
Last year Michigan took a step similar to what Ohio just did. It limited imports of eggs produced in crowded cages, also demonstrating participation in the agreements between farmers and activists.
There is no doubt that people are increasingly concerned about the way their food is handled and produced. That may intensify after the recent FDA egg recalls from factory farms in Iowa. According to one story, chicken manure was piled 8 feet high at Quality Egg in Galt, Iowa.
Increasing consumer concern over food production brings the opportunity for farmers to accommodate as well. Perhaps it’s just a coincidence, but its good to see that two Great Lakes states are participating in this trend.