Phase Three Project

         My phase three project will be an informative webzine on the importance of local farms.  Looking at the example audio slideshows I am going to use ethos, logos, and pathos.  I am going to use credible sites such as the EPA and an actual farmer for ethos.  I am going to explain the importance of supporting your local family farmer for an emotional appeal.  I am going to use the facts and statistics of how supporting your local family farmer will benefit economics and health.   I am going  to use pathos and logos the most when writing the script for my slideshow. 

Questions for Conference

         At our mid term conference I am going to ask how I am doing in the class in general. This is my first college English class, so  I am bit apprehensive I am not doing as well as others.  I am going to ask about my writing as whole.  Do I use my syntax wisely? Do I use appropriate diction?  Do you think I am efficiently transferring my writing into the different types of modules? 

Negative Effects of CAFOs on Rural Communites

           CAFOs were designed to benefit the economy positively.  These operations produce more livestock at a faster rate using less land and feed.  There is a flaw to every perfect plan, however. CAFOs do not only effect the environment and public health, they effect surrounding communities economic health.  Building one of these operations in a rural community causes the local farmers to struggle to compete and eventually these hard working men and women are put out of business.  The surrounding communities are having to pay more money on health care and environmental control rather then on desires.  Which in turn effects local stores in a negative way because their business is also suffering.  In these types of operations "CAFOs may generate profits for a few local investors but they do not promote rural economic development. CAFO operators do business wherever they can get the best deal, which typically is not in the local community." (Ikerd 2009)
            Larger businesses may want to do their business where the best deal is but people are becoming aware of how the food products they are consuming are being processed.  Those cheaper deals are also lacking in nutritional value.   More people are turning to free range and organic food for the safety of the products.  Also promoting local farmers and business to promote a good sense of local economic health.  The public in the types of communities surrounding CAFOs are spending money not at these large businesses because their issues of health and environment, not to mention the lack of income is hindering them from doing so but on more pressing issues.  Large scale grocery stores should turn to these types of alternatives for the safety of their costumers, the quality of the products, and for the fact that the customers might be able to purchase these goods and not have to worry about other concerns.


Ikerd, John. Impacts of CAFOs on Rural Communities, 2008, received fromhttp://web.missouri.edu/~ikerdj/papers/Indiana%20--%20CAFOs%20%20Communities.htm

Ikerd, John. The Economics of CAFOs and Sustainable Alternatives. 2009. received from http://web.missouri.edu/~ikerdj/papers/Fairfield%20IA%20-%20Economics%20of%20CAFOs.htm

CAFO Podcast

         A confined animal feeding operation might have some benefits to our society but these operations cause damage to our all around health.  CAFOs are noxious to our environmental health and our physical health.  The mass accumulation of animal waste creates problems for our environment such as polluted ground water and toxic air.  The publics' health is also effected negatively by these operations.  The toxic air can cause respiratory problems in people living close to these facilities. The improper care of the livestock causes the animals to contract deadly bacteria such as E. Coli which can be transmitted to humans.  People living around the location of one of these operations should be aware of the problems caused. Anyone who shops at any grocery store and buys meat products needs to also be aware of problems.  Basically everyone should be aware of the harmful effects of these facilities. 
          A solution to the problems that surround CAFOs to widen the area of the feeding operations so the build up of the livestock waste is not so confined creating a noxious environment.  The widening of the area keeps the livestock from wallowing in their own waste, keeping sanitation hazards at bay.  A healthy alternative would be a free range farm or an oranic farm.  The animals at these facilities have larger areas to roam.  They eat the natural vegation.  The land to animal ratio is much higher compared to the CAFO creating a well balanced eco system.
           There are many problems surrounding a CAFO but the problems do not have to be perpetual.  We can help mend these mistakes by stating our oppositions towards these facilities.  To purchase goods from a local farmer or a free range farm instead of at a local grocery store is another solution.
      

Solutions on Improving CAFOs

        The agriculture community has drastically changed in the past century.  In the 1960's there were over 1 million hog producers and in 2005 the number dropped to 67,000 producers.  Not only do CAFOs effect the health and the environment. They effect people's livelihoods. These large producers are buying out the "little guy".  Many farms are family farms passed down through the generations. With the mega farms these farmers can not compete, many of them reluctantly have to give up their livelihood.  This is unsettling.  To many of these people farming is all they have, all the know.  The importance of supporting local farmers or businesses is significant in assisting your local economy to thrive.
        There are flaws in every plan.  CAFOs certainly have many flaws. Fortunately producers are taking action to improve on the areas that need to be improved on.  The Clean Water Act recognizes the pollutants that the result form these farms.  After reviewing the problems the EPA and the USDA have come up with regulatory requirements, limitations guidelines and also producers have to obtain permits to run these operations. I think this a great way to monitor and control the waste that is being produced in the CAFOs.  
       Both of these sources are credible. The first source comes from a professor from Iowa University, the second from the EPA.  The purpose of these sources are to inform the public about the impact of CAFOs and how the problems are trying to be solved.  The first source is current. The second source is a few years older but the Clean Water Act is still in effect. It has actually been in effect since 1970, however updates are made to the act as agriculture production is also being updated.
           

Donham Kelley J, Flora Jan L, Hodne Carol, Osterberg David, Thorne Peter S, Thu Kendall M, Wing Steven.  Feb2007 Community Health and Socioeconomic Issues surrounding Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations. Retrieved from http://lib-proxy.purduecal.edu:2461/ehost/detail?sid=df4cde3e-e5d0-4099-859e-d62c061cd1ca%40sessionmgr104&vid=1&hid=112&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=24222562

Johnson Renee Selinsky, Wheeler William J, Christian Lee A. 1999 EPAs Approach to Controlling Pollution From Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations: An Economic Analysis. Retrieved from http://lib-proxy.purduecal.edu:2461/ehost/detail?sid=78fad9fd-1de5-4ce0-9e0b-73e3fd1cf1a6%40sessionmgr110&vid=1&hid=112&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=crh&AN=2864813

CAFOs Efficient or Mephitic?

What impact do Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) have on water quality and the environment?
          First of all a CAFO is an animal feeding facility that confines large quantities of animals in a limited amount of space.  During the growing season this area does not produce vegetation.  The concentration of waste combined with improperly managing the disposal of this waste can cause harm to the environment and public health.  Pollutants such as nitrogen, ammonia, and pathogens run off into waterways.  Environmental impact from this neglect can result in degradation of water resources and illness to the people exposed to such pathogens in their drinking water.  Also odors from the CAFOs can contribute to respiratory problems. 
          This paper will summarize how the negative effects of improperly managed CAFOs can harm our environment and residents surrounding the facilities.  I will also explain how simply following guidelines and regulations can improve water quality around the neighboring areas of these facilities.


 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Friday April 15 2011.  How do CAFOs Impact the Environment? Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/region7/water/cafo/cafo_impact_environment.htm.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Monday July 18 2011. Effluent Guidelines: Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Industry. Retrieved from http://water.epa.gov/scitech/wastetech/guide/cafo/index.cfm.

Clean Water

       Water is essential to anyone who enjoys living.  It is one of our most valuable natural resources.  Shouldn't we all be able to enjoy a refreshing glass of clean water without having to worry about infectious bacteria such as E. coli?  Indiana's waterways are unfortunately polluted with such bacteria.  What can we do to preserve one of our state's most valuable resource? What causes Northwest Indiana's waterways to be so unsafe?  How does polluted water effect our other resources such as land and air?  What are the negative health effects of drinking polluted water?

Pathos

Before her accident

     Remember when speaking in public to think of your audience. Keeping your audience interested is very important. You can use logos, ethos and pathos to do just that.
     Pathos in an argument is used to "tug on your heart strings" or evoke a feeling of pity or compassion.  The article I viewed  about Jacqueline Saburido is overwhelmed with pathos. This beautiful young women tragically fell victim to drunk driving; over 60% of her body is severely burned.  This article informs the public of the consequences of a "harmless" ride, which can destroy your entire life. The article contains few words  but these gruesome images make the claim that drunk driving can not only take away lives but annihilate lives.  This argument generates the emotion of extreme empathy or compassion for Ms. Saburido.  Those emotions combined with those pictures should persuade people never even consider drinking and driving as an option. To also be an   advocate against drunk driving. 
                                                     

After her accident

Agriculture Around the World

I have only been in the Indiana National Guard a little over a year and a half but so far I have enjoyed my experiences very much. Basic training was difficult to say the least but I love my MOS; a combat medic. I enlisted to help, so when I heard about the Agribusiness Development Team I was eager to learn more.

Agriculture is a major part of everyday life everywhere but especially in Afghanistan. The agriculture there used to thrive but after the impact of war that has not been the case.  Indiana Guardsmen along with other states have teamed up to form the Agribusiness Development Team.  The ADT journeys to Afghanistan to show farmers which crops to grow that are the most profitable, the most generative, and crops that will with stand the brutal environment. One such plant is the Forage Kochia, which tap roots can go twenty feet deep to reach water. This plant is nutritious for livestock as well. Before they leave, the Guardsmen have to also be trained.  So they go to Purdue to learn about the unique agricultural challenges of Afghanistan.  Purdue also has important ties with Afghanistan and some faculty go with the Guardsmen to help. This project with not only benefit these families livelihoods it will help their economy.

                I love agriculture; I am from a rural community.  I could never imagine living in the city. I take pride in where I live but the sad fact is Indiana ranks 49^th nationally in environmental quality! Most people think Indiana is miles and miles of cornfields, which you’d automatically think clean air but sadly no.  Indiana has one of the dirtiest air in the United States.  Along with negligent land use and economic development our state loses 100,000 acres of forest and farmland a year.  These issues really irk me. I want to live in a beautiful and healthy environment. I believe everyone should feel the same in wanting to fix this crisis. Together we can help our home and homes around the world.