Abstract
The method of producing food animals has changed in the United States over the past century, moving from traditional burns to enclosed structures resembling industrial buildings, where animals are raised in high stocking density (commonly known as “Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations,” CAFOs). The objective to maximize profit has resulted in poor farm management; raised issues of environmental pollution, public health, animal rights, and environmental justice, and had socio-economic impacts. Studies concerning the issues are limited to specific regions and types of CAFOs. In addition, studies on the spatial distribution and temporal changes of CAFO at a country scale are lacking. This study bridges some of the gaps by analyzing the spatial distribution of industrial farms in the United States in 2002 and 2007 and their relationship with vulnerable population and exploring the relationships among the concentrations of farms, socio-economic, health, and environmental characteristics of the counties. A range of spatial statistics tools were applied in this study. The study revealed variations in spatial distribution depending on the type of the CAFOs. The issue of environmental justice was found prevalent depending on the types of industrial farms. Each type of industrial farm was found to interact uniquely with the selected demographic, health, and environmental parameters.
Highlights
American agriculture has shifted from traditional small family farms to large agricultural industry over the past century to keep up with the increase in meat demand and objective of maximizing profit by minimizing the costs of producing food animals
Based on the identified shortfalls, this study addressed three specific questions: (a) What is the spatial distribution of industrial farms in United States of America (USA) and how did it change from the year 2002 to 2007? (b) Where are the hotspots of the industrial farms and do their demographic characteristics confirm the issue of environmental justice? (c) What is the relationship between the concentration of industrial farms and the socio-economic, health, and environmental characteristics?
This study revealed that the geographic distribution of factory farms varied by type of farm
Summary
American agriculture has shifted from traditional small family farms to large agricultural industry over the past century to keep up with the increase in meat demand and objective of maximizing profit by minimizing the costs of producing food animals. These kinds of farming facilities are known as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) and regarded as industrial farms or factory farms. D; by adding the vitamins to feed, animals no longer required exercise and sunlight for growth [3] This advancement in agricultural practice has increased efficiency in agricultural production. Improper management of the generated wastes, exposure of neighborhood to Geography Journal the pollutants, decrease in aesthetic and property values, and location of the facilities in areas of environmental justice population have raised questions about the sustainability of industrial farming
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
