The federal government is aiding factory farmers by subsidizing animal products with our tax dollars.
In fact, the vast majority of federal farm subsidies are awarded to meat producers in the form of aid to growers of soybeans and corn, crops grown primarily as animal feed.
An article in the National Review details the unfair advantages enjoyed by factory farmers:
These industries occupy an
astoundingly coveted position among American businesses: They get bailouts when
they overproduce, have their most costly business expense (feed) subsidized,
get federally supervised dollars to market their products, and even get free
research and development that they benefit from but for which they don’t pay a
cent.
Although we’re increasingly encouraged to eat more fresh produce, only a small fraction of federal food subsides are provided to farmers growing fruits and veggies for human consumption.
Facilitating mass production of cheap factory-farmed meat doesn’t just promote unhealthy eating habits; it also devastates the environment.
Raising animals for food produces more greenhouse gas emissions than all of the cars, planes, and other forms of transportation combined. In fact, a pound of beef requires 13 percent more fossil fuel to produce than a pound of soy.
Additionally, animal agriculture is culpable for nearly 91 percent of Amazon destruction, more than 500 nitrogen-flooded dead zones in the world’s oceans, and wastage of more than one-third of the earth’s landmass, including land for grazing and growing feed crops.
Without taxpayer-funded subsidies, the prices of factory-farmed animal products would more closely reflect their true production costs. Such prices would exceed most Americans’ price point for products purchased on a daily basis.
Eliminating these wasteful subsidies would undoubtedly lead more people towards healthier, plant-based foods. It would benefit human health and the environment, and spare billions of farmed animals from brutal abuse by the meat industry each year.
For delicious vegan recipes, product recommendations, and tips on making the transition to a vegan diet, click here.
