Hi all,

I just received this from Dr Jim Merchant of the Universtiy of Iowa College
of Public Health, who has spoken on the panel at a couple of Right to Harm
screenings. There is BIG information in here for Iowa and Johnson County.

Here are some of the highlights (my emphasis):

Iowa produces over 25 million hogs, making it a top state for large,
industrial hog operations. Results of the poll indicate that Iowans are
ready to see state-level action to make sure that food production is safe
and sustainable for the long haul. Last year, a proposal was put forward in
the Iowa legislature to increase oversight of CAFOs and place a moratorium
on new CAFOs and the expansion of existing CAFOs.



·         *Sixty-three percent of Iowans think the state legislature should
pass a proposal banning construction of new CAFOs and expansion of existing
CAFOs. *Three out of four also want to raise environmental standards for
CAFOs to protect water and air quality and safeguard nearby communities.



·         Of Iowans surveyed, 56 percent say industrial animal farms focus
more on profits than public health.

·         One in three say they are worried about health impacts for Iowans
across the board. Eight in ten are concerned about the threat of
contaminated water and air to CAFO workers and nearby communities.

This is golden information for us. 63% support a moratorium.



Here’s the actual link:
https://clf.jhsph.edu/about-us/news/news-2019/survey-majority-voters-surveyed-support-greater-oversight-industrial-animal



*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*






*SURVEY: MAJORITY OF VOTERS SURVEYED SUPPORT GREATER OVERSIGHT OF
INDUSTRIAL ANIMAL FARMS*--*A new poll finds Americans are concerned about
the negative impacts caused by industrial farming practices *



A new survey released by the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future
finds that the majority of registered voters support greater oversight of
industrial animal farms. The Center for a Livable Future is based at the
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.



The survey is thought to be the first-ever national poll
<https://clf.jhsph.edu/sites/default/files/2019-12/CAFO-moratorium-survey-results.pdf>
measuring likely U.S. voters’ attitudes toward industrial animal farms,
referred to as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). These
large-scale operations house thousands of animals being raised for food
consumption. The animals are packed into structures where their movements
are restricted, and they are typically not allowed outside. In addition,
CAFOs produce large amounts of hazardous waste that pollutes water and air,
leading to a range of negative impacts on human health. They also often
treat animals with antibiotics that then enter human food supplies which
can also have negative health impacts by contributing to growing antibiotic
resistance in humans.



The survey was fielded in October 2019 and drew from responses from 1,000
randomly selected registered U.S. voters nationally, as well as 400
additional registered voters in Iowa and 400 in North Carolina. Respondents
included voters of different party affiliation, gender, race, and age. The
survey was conducted via landline and cell phone.



To develop the poll, the Center for a Livable Future worked with Greenberg
Quinlan Rosner (GQR), a nationwide public opinion research company. Among
survey respondents, there was significant concern with the negative health
and environmental impacts caused by CAFOs, as well as support for greater
government oversight of CAFOs.

Key findings from the poll of likely U.S. voters include:



·         A majority of national respondents (57 percent) support greater
oversight of existing industrial animal farms. In addition, 43 percent of
those surveyed say they favor a national ban on the creation of new CAFOs,
compared to only 38 percent who oppose such a ban.



·         More than 8 out of 10 surveyed expressed concern about air and
water pollution, worker safety, and health problems caused by CAFOs.



·         When informed of the widespread use of antibiotics on CAFOs,
which contributes to growing antibiotic resistance in people, 85 percent
were either very or somewhat concerned.



·         Nearly 70 percent are troubled that these problems
disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color.
And 78 percent are concerned that CAFOs continue to receive billions in
taxpayer subsidies.



·         A majority of national respondents (54 percent) think the
government should do more to solve problems and meet the needs of people.



“These poll results indicate that Americans want safer, more sustainable
food animal production methods that work for local communities,” says Bob
Martin, director of the Food System Policy Program at the Johns Hopkins
Center for a Livable Future and a faculty member with the Bloomberg
School’s Department of Environmental Health and Engineering. “They are
concerned about the impact of CAFOs on human health, water and air, and the
environment, and they want government  officials to take decisive action to
curb these impacts.”



The national poll includes state-specific results for North Carolina and
Iowa, two of the states with high concentrations of CAFO facilities. In
North Carolina, the state legislature banned the construction of new CAFOs
in 2007 and mandated stricter rules for existing CAFOs. The findings show
that support for the 2007 ban remains strong, and that many voters support
additional actions to alleviate the impact of CAFOs on local families and
communities.



·         Fifty-seven percent of voters surveyed say they favor the state’s
current ban on new CAFOs and only 27 percent oppose the ban.

·         Even with the ban on new CAFOs, 45 percent believe industrial
animal farms are still contributing to air pollution in the state. More
than half remain concerned about water pollution from CAFOs.

·         North Carolinians are particularly concerned about CAFOs
contributing to the rise of antibiotic-resistant diseases (89 percent), the
contamination of rivers with waste (86 percent), waste run-off contributing
to algae blooms in waterways used for swimming and drinking (88 percent),
and nearby workers and communities that suffer health impacts of unsafe
levels of toxic gases and dust (86 percent).



Iowa produces 23 million hogs, making it a top state for large, industrial
hog operations. Results of the poll indicate that Iowans are ready to see
state-level action to make sure that food production is safe and
sustainable for the long haul. Last year, a proposal was put forward in the
Iowa legislature to increase oversight of CAFOs and place a moratorium on
new CAFOs and the expansion of existing CAFOs.



·         Sixty-three percent of Iowans think the state legislature should
pass a proposal banning construction of new CAFOs and expansion of existing
CAFOs. Three out of four also want to raise environmental standards for
CAFOs to protect water and air quality and safeguard nearby communities.



·         Of Iowans surveyed, 56 percent say industrial animal farms focus
more on profits than public health.

·         One in three say they are worried about health impacts for Iowans
across the board. Eight in ten are concerned about the threat of
contaminated water and air to CAFO workers and nearby communities.



The release of this poll comes on the heels of the American Public Health
Association’s approval of a policy statement
<https://clf.jhsph.edu/about-us/news/news-2019/nations-leading-public-health-organization-urges-halt-all-new-and-expanding>
calling for a ban on both new CAFOs and the expansion of existing CAFOs.



More than 90 percent of all livestock raised in the U.S. are confined to
CAFOs, and the operations produce half the country’s animal waste and
represent a major threat to public health. Hazardous waste from CAFOs
contaminates drinking water and air with chemicals that cause disease,
birth defects, respiratory problems, and cancer for workers and nearby
communities. In addition, 80 percent of the nation’s antibiotics are used
on animals, whether they are sick or not, meaning that CAFOs contribute to
the looming antibiotic-resistance crisis.



The poll was funded by the Columbus Foundation.



Stories on poll



   - The Hill: More than half of Americans support more oversight of
   factory farms: poll
   <https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/473786-more-than-half-of-americans-support-more-oversight-of-factory-farms>
   - FERN’s Ag. Insider: Majority want more oversight of CAFOs, poll finds
   <https://thefern.org/ag_insider/majority-want-more-oversight-of-cafos-poll-finds/>
   - New Food Economy: Do factory farm bans have a political future?
   <https://newfoodeconomy.org/factory-farm-bans-cafo-poll/>



Some posts and images you would be welcome to use are available at this
link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vBnlEWjwfdiSAI2Ka73WQ-WfQblH2m9gOAmGORXHZ1o/edit?usp=sharing



Bob Martin, Director, Food System Policy

Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future

111 Market Place, Ste. 840
<https://www.google.com/maps/search/111+Market+Place,+Ste.+840+Baltimore,+Maryland+21202?entry=gmail&source=g>

Baltimore, Maryland 21202
<https://www.google.com/maps/search/111+Market+Place,+Ste.+840+Baltimore,+Maryland+21202?entry=gmail&source=g>

410-223-1821 (office)

301-379-9107 (mobile)

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