Peter Singer used the term "factory farm" in his book Animal Liberation back in the mid-1970's. I think the term was in use even before that. It's been part of the language for a very long time now, and it's used not by CAFO supporters and operators, but by OPPONENTS of concentrated animal feeding operations.
 
"Farm" and "factory farm" indeed have two different meanings. Yes the Farm Bureau calls CAFOs "farms," in a dishonest attempt to make us believe they are red-barn family farms, just like in the 1950s.  But the Farm Bureau never uses the term "factory farm", because that has all the bad connotations of animal cruelty and environmental devastation, along with the destruction of true family farms.
 
I don't think therefore that the term "factory farm" is about to be abandoned by opponents of CAFOs.  Because the good guys use the term against the bad guys.
 
Tom
 
In a message dated 8/18/2011 11:17:01 A.M. Central Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes:
PS:  Whoever is using the term "factory farm" needs to stop it NOW.  I grew up on a farm and the word has very special -- and very emotional -- meaning.  That's why Big Ag uses it against us.  These are animal factories for sure.  Cruel and unusual absolutely.  But emotional buzz words are the mantra of Big Ag -- and we walk right into their trap when we use "farms" in our communications.

Donna



On Aug 18, 2011, at 11:11 AM, Donna Buell wrote:

The national nonprofit Environmental Integrity Group has joined the Iowa Chapter of Sierra Club and Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement to begin legal action they hope will strip the  Iowa Department of Natural Resources of its power to enforce federal water quality rules.



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