Is Eating Meat Ethical?

Many of you have probably seen the New York Times essay contest about whether or not eating meat is ethical.  I clicked on the link, expecting most the essays to be written by people who were very far from agriculture, with strict anti-ag agendas and completely sworn off meat.  Instead, I found six well crafted essays from people who really care about their food.

As I read through the essays, I found the common theme to be eating meat is ethical, but the way we produce it is not.  Many people fear what we are doing to the land, more than what will happen to their bodies.  Most think that some of our technology is good and that advancement is important.  They fear the "factory farm."  Even the those essays written by farmers showed resistance against them.  I know that my farm would be considered sinister to these people, but it is and always will be family owned and operated.  Each decision we make is not only towards the bottom line, but also towards the welfare of the land, animals, and consumer. 

When I think about sustainable agriculture, I think it should be a way to produce that saves our resources.  We should work to preserve the soil, water, and integrity of our crops.  At the same time, we have to make sure we are utilizing the resources in the best ways possible.  Is it better to use a type of roundup ready corn that needs no irrigation and little spraying, than to use a corn variety that is much less hardy, taking more seeds to get a smaller yield, with the use of irrigation, plus additional energy with gasoline powered equipment?  Is that really more sustainable with a population expected to reach 9 billion in the next two decades?  Some people contest the use of animal waste as fertilizer.  I see it as a way to use all of our resources to maximize efficiency and productivity, while lessening dependence on other forms of fertilizer. 

I want to see the quality of our food increase.  Our food is currently clean and safe, but people have come to expect that from their food supply, and now want the accountability of growers, processors, and producers.  We should be happy that our consumers do take such an interest in what we do, although it is daunting at times.  I believe that American farmers can rise to meet the challenge.