Re: Pig farm smell and other pork (LOL. . .I know, I know, I know)

[wndycty]

The push back or better yet EVALUATION of any "pork" project should include a discussion of the number of JOBS, impacted and the value of the project to the overall economy. For instance when talking about researching the smell of pig farms I would like to know how many people are either keeping or getting jobs as a result of this research.

In addition to funding direct employment will the research itself create job opportunities for those folks who will be dealing with the smell for pig farms?

And lastly, if the issue of smell on pig farms is not addressed could it end up having a negative impact on the local economies of the communities affected?

[jwirr]

1. I cannot answer you first two questions but I know for a fact that every

neighbor of a pig factory wants it closed. Thus a lot of agricultural jobs are in danger. Our neighbor did stop raising hogs and went to raising sheep instead.

[wndycty]

2. So essentially this is a quality of life issue that has economic repercussions if left untreated

. . .sounds a lot less like pork when we look at it through that lens.

[jwirr]

5. Exactly.

[liberal N proud]

3. I worked in a pork processing facility

The smell stays with you for weeks after working there.

I worked in a pork processing facility for 3 summers while going to college. Every fall when I went back to school, I was sure that I smelled like the place. The smell was in my sinus and it lasted for weeks.

At the time, it was damn good money, but then Reaganomics happened and they closed the place to bust the union.

[DeepBlueC]

4. that "odor" is a toxic cloud

possibly searching for uses in bio-warfare...

[Venceremos]

6. Shouldn't the industry creating the smell

have to pay for the research? The smell is caused by factory farms so I disagree with any legislation that even indirectly gives tax dollars to them. Factory farms put numerous family farms out of business, and are churning out an unhealthy product (pork produced under filthy conditions where the animals are treated inhumanely).

Iowa has the largest number of factory pork farms in the country, and Harkin knows that, so he should have a clue as to why the smell is so bad. If he really wants to do something about the smell, how about introducing legislation that would give incentives to farmers to raise their animals on pasture instead of in confinement - and hence reduce the smell.