Keo 1

Jeanney Keo
Instructor Daw
College Composition
13 July 2016
The Horrors of Intensive Farming
Knowing where ones food originated an increasingly more common desire
amongst individuals in the United States of America. As the population in the United
States of America increase, the demand for domestic agriculture increases. To meet
these demands, many farmers have turned to processes that result in higher yields, but
also in a destruction of land they are growing their crops on. Not only does this affect
the foods that are eaten, but also animals and livestock that are raised on these lands,
and the land itself is left to be deficient of nutrients for future crops. Historical patterns
have shown that these methods are only successful for incentric rewards of high yields
and ultimately lead to long-term problems that takes years to reverse.
Intensive farming theoretically is a fantastic method to mass produce sustenance
for a large population. It provides copious amounts of agriculture, livestock are able to
be closely monitored, and the economy is able to be much more stable. Many will chip
in to say that it is much more affordable (Rayner) than organically raised products.
This may be true, but if the whole nation was set to have free-range and pesticide free
foods than the privileged eaters would not exist and rather everyone would be equal
food advocates. This farming method seems to be of great advantage but that is
definitely not the case. It is instead very dangerous and horrible to everyone and
everything, proving to be more disadvantageous than advantageous.

Keo 2
The technique of intensive farming has been utilized since the British Agricultural
Revolution of the 1700s, but is more closely tied to rising in popularity during the
Industrial Revolution of the 1900s when there was a sharp increase in population. With
an increasing amount of hungry mouths to feed, the farmers had to turn to a new
method of growing crops: intensive farming, in order to have higher crop yield (Pillai).
This affects the humans that eats these crops because they are oftentimes drenched
with pesticides and other chemicals to keep off bugs and insects as well as grow faster,
and not organically. The side effects of these harmful chemicals includes biodiversity
that poisons helpful organisms as well as have negative effects on health [of humans]
(Farming).
Livestock that are involved in intensive farming are treated just as badly as the
crops themselves. Cattle, poultry, and swine are all raised with poor living conditions
and thus are oftentimes infected by lethal diseases. Along with diseases from horribly
kept pens, livestock are usually injected with hormones to increase their meat yield.
These hormones are not natural, and result in the animals being labeled as genetically
modified organisms (Pillai).
As the method of intensive farming greatly affects the produce, the land itself is
also affected negatively. By excessively using fertilizers and pesticides, the land is
contaminated and depleted of minerals and nutrients (Aarts) that crops need to be
successful.
Communities and farmers should turn away from this harmful agriculture system
and introduce and establish better methods that will be better overall for the world.
Alternative methods include organic farming, hydroponics, and biological control that will

Keo 3
promote a healthier lifestyle and community. Animals will have less injury and their
fatality rates from uncleanliness will decrease, crops will have constant support and
nutrients at their aid, and the pest population could be controlled naturally, without
harmful chemicals.
Agriculture is a crucial aspect of a successful community, but it should have
methods in place that are eccentric in rewards to provide aid for future generations. By
implementing systems that do not harm humans, livestock, or soil of the Earth, the
communities would altogether improve in living conditions.