Ed Fallon has again emphasized agricultural policy in his campaign against Congressman Leonard Boswell.
Contact: Stacy Brenton
Fallon for Congress
(515) 822-3029
stacy@fallonforcongress.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFallon Kicks Off ‘New Energy for Iowa Tour’
Proposes National CAFO MoratoriumMonday, May 19, 2008 – Today in Des Moines, Ed Fallon kicked off his ‘New Energy for Iowa Tour’ with an announcement that if elected to Congress, Fallon would propose a national moratorium on hog confinements built by big corporations. Fallon sees this as a critical step toward restoring vitality to rural areas suffering from the loss of populations, farm employment and economic development.”
Fallon says, “Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) are having an adverse effect on the environment, agriculture, health and local farm and business operations. We need to stop the consolidation and explosion of this industry and renew our commitment to growing a sustainable economy and quality of life in rural Iowa. I commit to leading the way on this issue in Washington, given the lack of leadership here at the state level.”
Fallon and Boswell have drawn contrasts with one another on farm policy several times during this campaign. In general, Boswell is happy with current federal agriculture policies and is proud of his work on them, while Fallon is not satisfied with the priorities that guide current agriculture policies.
Fallon is right to say CAFOs should be a federal concern, because there appears to be little hope of making progress on regulating them at the state level.
Meanwhile, evidence is mounting that CAFOs incur huge hidden costs on society.
For more on why Fallon is right on this issue, read the final report from the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production and this recent report from the Union of Concerned Scientists, “CAFOs Uncovered: The Untold Costs of Confined Animal Feeding Operations.”