CARES survey results

Doug Caulkins has provided detailed summary of the results (through December 2012) of the survey of CARES members that he and Elena Gardner prepared and distributed. They found that, as a group, CARES members ranked the various problems related to industrial confinement operations as follows, in order of importance:

1. Potential pollution of air and water sources neglects our responsibility to future generation of Iowans
2. Legislature fails to take scientific studies of environmental impact of CAFOs into account
3. Legislature fails to take scientific studies of health impacts of CAFOs into account
4. DNR and EPC appear to support corporate interests over local citizen interest
5. The process for applying for site permit (Master Matrix system) is flawed in that it is currently too lenient
6. Lack of control at the local (county) level of the siting of hog confinements
7. CAFOs contribute to development of antibiotic-resistant pathogens that are harmful for humans
8. Increased rates of respiratory illness
9. Odor restricts lifestyle
10. Widespread use of large CAFOs undermines profitability of family farms
11. Local economic growth is controlled by out-of-state corporations
12. CAFOs limit freedoms of community members
13. Decrease of property values
14. May impair health of confinement laborers
15. Odor discourages patronage of nearby businesses
16. Tendency to use non-local suppliers
17. CAFO-raised animals tend to be unhealthy food for humans
18. Discourages people from moving here