LIVESTOCK DO MORE THAN RAISE THE , AND EGGS ON YOUR PLATE. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE, TRUSTED NEIGHBORS.

Honest Answers to Valid Questions

New can be scary, and when you don’t know what that technology to make producing your food, fiber and fuel something new really is, it’s easy to get caught up in what efficient and safe for the livestock and the environment. you hear or see on the internet. When it comes to new or growing livestock , the Today’s farms don’t quite look like pastoral images in same questions seem to arise, and we have some answers. children’s books or the memories of our grandparents’ But, don’t just take our word for it — we’ve cited our farms. Just as you update your smartphone when new resources and encourage you to do your own research. technology is available, farmers leverage the newest Visit FarmersDeliver.com to take a look.

WHAT ABOUT ALL THE ANTIBIOTICS FARMS USE, 1 AREN’T THOSE BAD FOR MY FAMILY?1, 2, 3 Nope Antibiotics, in humans and in livestock, can be misused or overused. In fact, the CDC estimates that nearly half of all antibiotics prescribed in our hospitals are unnecessary. But, when used to prevent, control or treat disease to keep livestock (and humans) healthy, antibiotics play an important role. Because of this, livestock farmers are careful to use antibiotics judiciously. Why?

For one, having a tool that helps sick Secondly, antibiotics are expensive Last, many farms are limiting livestock is too important to risk whether you’re a or a person! So, antibiotic use to disease treatment developing resistance from overuse. farmers won’t treat more livestock only and choosing antibiotics that are Today’s livestock farmers are making than they must. considered -only – meaning choices they think keep their livestock antibiotics that aren’t used in humans – healthy and well cared for. This Third, meat is tested for antibiotic when they do use them. includes consulting to residue. Since 1967, meat and make the right decisions about animal products have been tested for the Source: Centers for Disease Control and health and treatment. In fact, many presence of more than 100 compounds, Prevention, Michigan State University antibiotics require a ’s including antibiotics, by the USDA Extension, U.S. Food and Drug Administration prescription for use, just like your Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS). family receives from your doctor. Called Veterinary Feed Directives, they ensure the right amount of antibiotic for the disease. DO LIVESTOCK LEAD TO DRUG- WON’T EVERYTHING SMELL 2 RESISTANT BACTERIA SUCH AS MRSA?4 Nope 6 LIKE MANURE ALL THE TIME?9 Nope Concerns over negative health impacts such as MRSA from animal are unfounded. One of the main reasons While there is no denying that manure – and the smell – is an inevitable part of animal agriculture, livestock farmers livestock are housed in barns is to protect them from outside diseases to keep the food chain safe. With strict do everything they can to mitigate odor and be good neighbors. It starts with choosing the correct building site and measures, the likelihood of livestock in a regulated facility causing an outbreak of disease is negligible. designing barns with sophisticated ventilation and manure-holding structures, but that’s not all; here are some other Source: Source: University of Minnesota, Research Center; University of Minnesota, College of smart tactics used to keep the air fresh:

• Planting windbreaks and shelterbelts (trees and shrubs) • Implementing feed-management strategies BIG CORPORATIONS HAVE TAKEN • Covering outside storage structures • Aerating liquid storage structures 3 OVER THE FAMILY .5,6 Nope • Avoiding fertilizing fields with manure on weekends and holidays Farms today look different than they used to, but only the structure has Manure is a valuable resource that contains all the nutrients needed to keep changed. A corporate farm is not about size — it’s about farmers setting up their the land rich and fertile for growing . Farmers don’t like to waste this businesses for tax and estate planning purposes. Indiana farms that have been valuable resource. operating for generations, regardless of size, can be corporations. In fact, 87% of Source: Purdue University all farms in Indiana are family owned and managed.

Today’s larger farms are all about economies of scale and growing and adapting to support the families tied to them. And, these larger farms use more local area 8,10 grain and resources – supporting their rural economies. DOES ANYONE REGULATE THESE BARNS? Source: Purdue University Department of Agricultural Economics, USDA Census of Agriculture 7 Yep In fact, there are literally volumes of ever-changing rules and regulations that farmers must keep informed of and meet or exceed, and there are several agencies providing oversight. Think of it this way: Federal and state agencies regulate how IF A NEW FARM GOES IN NEXT DOOR, WON’T barns are managed, and local agencies regulate where they are built. NEIGHBORHOOD PROPERTY VALUES GO DOWN?7 4 Nope Absolutely every detail, from building site to the manure-storage system, is reviewed and approved prior to construction. When researching potential building sites, farmers consider many factors such as appropriate zoning, sufficient space, Once the approved building is ready for livestock, both the livestock and the manure are subject to specific rules around proximity of neighbors, location of public use areas like lakes and parks, land topography and prevailing wind direction. things like transportation, application of manure as , feeding practices and animal care. Because of these best management practices, property values should not be negatively impacted. Keep in mind, it’s in a ’s best interest to meet or exceed all standards to make sure their livestock and the land stay To support this finding, unbiased qualitative and quantitative research conducted in Indiana shows that in most cases – safe and sound. depending on proximity – new or expanded livestock farms have a neutral or positive impact on neighboring property values. Source: Indiana Department of Environmental Management requirements, Board of Animal Health requirements Source: Indiana Business Research Center

DOESN’T LIVESTOCK POLLUTE OUR WATER?8 OUR LOCAL ROADS CAN’T HANDLE 5 Nope 8 ALL THE ADDED TRAFFIC.11 Not True Large modern livestock buildings — also referred to as Confined Feeding Operations (CFOs) — are required to have Like any new construction project, traffic is increased on roads when a new is being built. But, day-to-day traffic for environmental plans developed by in compliance with federal and state rules. These documents include nutrient feed delivery, animal hauling or moving output like milk is all managed within the rules of the county (spring thaw regulations management plans, which are basically a calculation of how much manure will be produced, how it will be stored and how it for example) and in compliance with truck weight rules and laws. A study done by Purdue interviewed county highway will be managed until it can be appropriately applied to land as a highly effective fertilizer. engineers and found no impact on bridges; the few times damage has occurred, farmers paid the expense directly. Zoning rules and county planning commissions have authority to assess roads and impacts when barns are being considered. New livestock buildings are also sited per county zoning and are designed and constructed per state rules that specify Source: Purdue University Department of Agricultural Economics setbacks from waterways, wells, intakes and the like. By regulation, CFOs are not allowed to have any manure discharge — none, zero, zilch. Source: IDEM Requirements

2 3 ANIMAL AGRICULTURE IS MORE THAN HOT WINGS, AND ICE CREAM. IT’S DOING WHAT’S RIGHT FOR COMMUNITIES AND

. Indiana’sFAMILIES livestock farmers are a part of our community fabric, caring for the land and that feed their families, and yours.

As community leaders and economic contributors, Indiana’s livestock farm families are responsible neighbors invested in their heritage, their future and the health of the community.

Learn more about Indiana’s livestock farmers at FarmersDeliver.com.

Funded with Indiana soybean and corn checkoff dollars.

1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Monitoring System for Enteric Bacteria. “NARMS – Combating Antibiotic Resistance with Surveillance.” Accessed March 2017. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/narms/faq.html 2Michigan State University Extension. 2013. “Antibiotic residue testing in meat results in few positive samples.” Accessed March 2017. Retrieved from: http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/antibiotic_residue_testing_in_meat_results_in_few_positive_samples 3U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “FACT SHEET: Veterinary Feed Directive Final Rule and Next Steps.” Accessed March 2017. Retrieved from: https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/ucm449019.htm 4Davies, P. 2013. “ and MRSA: What are the human health risks and to whom?” University of Minnesota, Food Policy Research Center and College of Veterinary Medicine. Accessed March 2017. Retrieved from: http://www.foodpolicy.umn.edu/sites/foodpolicy.umn.edu/files/pigs-and-mrsa.pdf 5DeBoer, L. 2012. “A Cost of Community Services Study: For Indiana Counties and School Corporations.” Purdue University Department of Agricultural Economics. 6USDA Census of Agriculture. 2014. “2012 Census of Agriculture Reveals New Trends in Farming.” Accessed March 2017. Retrieved from: http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Newsroom/2014/05_02_2014.php 7Indiana Business Research Center. 2008. “The Effect of Regulated Livestock Operations on Property Values in Selected Indiana Counties.” Accessed March 2017. Retrieved from: http://www.ibrc.indiana.edu/studies/indiana_cafo_cfo_property_impact_2008.pdf 8Indiana Department of Environmental Management. “Confined Feeding Operations (CFOs/CAFOs).” Accessed March 2017. Retrieved from: http://www.in.gov/idem/4994.htm. 9Heber, A., D, Jones and A. Sutton. “Methods and Practices to Reduce Odor from Swine Facilities.” Purdue University Department of Agricultural and Biological Department and Department of Animal Sciences. Accessed March 2017. Retrieved from: https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/AE/AQ-2/AQ-2.html 10Board of Animal Health. “Livestock and Poultry Care.” Accessed March 2017. Retrieved from: http://www.in.gov/boah/2592.htm 11Purdue University Extension. 2008-2009. “Community Impacts of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations in Indiana.” Accessed March 2017. Retrieved from: http://www.agecon.purdue.edu/extension/programs/files/June18IPvideopresentation.pdf injoin livest 4380-1 4 21-MC28-03/17