Source: Food & Water Watch analysis of U.S. Department of Agriculture Census of Agriculture data.
RISE OF FACTORY FARMS
Over the last two decades, small and medium-scale farms raising animals for food have given way to factory farms that confine thousands of cows, hogs and chickens in tightly packed facilities.
HEALTH RISKS
Factory farms can create health hazards for their neighbors, and for the general public because overcrowded conditions make it easy for disease to spread.
ABUSING ANTIBIOTICS
Many factory farms give low levels of antibiotics to animals for a long period of time - perfect conditions for developing antibiotic resistant bacteria.
TOO MUCH MANURE
The largest factory farms produced almost 13 times more waste in 2012 than the human population of the United States.
LOSING INDEPENDENT FARMERS
Most farmers have not benefited from the shift to factory farming.