Emily Payne
@epayne.bsky.social
Independent journalist covering food, agriculture, health, and climate
AI could potentially improve the lives of billions of farm animals worldwide. But critics worry it risks further expanding factory farms while avoiding animal welfare problems inherent to the industrial farming system. My latest on @sentientmedia.org: sentientmedia.org/ai-is-coming...
AI Is Coming to Factory Farms. Will It Help the Animals or Just the Industry?
New technology can detect pain in farm animals, but critics say it may do more to bolster the system than improve it.
sentientmedia.org
Denmark (population: 6 million) produces 28 million pigs a year. How then, did pig-farming go from politically untouchable to a defining issue in the March elections? @epayne.bsky.social reports:
How Denmark’s ‘Pig Election’ Rewrote Factory Farm Politics
Could animal welfare and clean water motivate American voters?
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A coalition of organic farmers is suing the federal government, alleging that the milk-pricing system in place since the 1930s unfairly advantages industrial dairy producers.
This spring — in a country of 6 million people that produces about 28 million pigs per year — animal welfare was a defining issue in what became known as the “pig election.” Could U.S. animal welfare advocates learn from this success? For @sentientmedia.org: sentientmedia.org/pig-election...
How Denmark’s ‘Pig Election’ Rewrote Factory Farm Politics
Could animal welfare and clean water motivate American voters?
sentientmedia.org
Climatemaxxing livestock can worsen animal welfare. And yet many efforts to make livestock healthier are actually win-win-wins, raising productivity, improving animal welfare, and reducing environmental impacts, as I note in this @epayne.bsky.social article.
Breeding Climate-Friendly Livestock May Come at the Expense of Farm Animal Welfare
A new report argues that focusing solely on climate emissions can result in breeding programs that increase animal suffering.
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“Whenever we optimize for one value, we risk undermining another. The history of farmed animal breeding makes this clear,” says Jeff Sebo, professor and co-director of the Wild Animal Welfare Program at New York University. sentientmedia.org/breeding-cli...
Breeding Climate-Friendly Livestock May Come at the Expense of Farm Animal Welfare
A new report argues that focusing solely on climate emissions can result in breeding programs that increase animal suffering.
sentientmedia.org
Three new lawsuits allege that the USDA forces organic dairies to subsidize a system that primarily benefits conventional dairy. @epayne.bsky.social reports:
Organic Dairies Say Federal Pricing System Costs Them Millions
A series of lawsuits argues an obsolete profit-sharing system is subsidizing industrial dairy farms.
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“Regardless of socioeconomic status, political affiliation or racial geographic areas, water is the most precious resource that we have...You don’t have water, you die. It’s that simple.” My latest for @insideclimatenews.org on how drought is impacting rural drinking water: bit.ly/4nl0RKT
As a Colorado Aquifer Runs Low, Dangerous Heavy Metals Threaten Rural Communities’ Drinking Water - Inside Climate News
In the San Luis Valley, the ongoing megadrought and a record-low snowpack are draining groundwater and increasing its concentrations of toxic metals. There are few protections for residents drinking f...
insideclimatenews.org
People living near industrial farms may face increased cancer risk, a new study finds. @epayne.bsky.social reports:
Cancer Rates Are Higher Near Factory Farms, Study Finds
In California, Texas and Iowa, cancer rates are 4-8% higher in areas with more industrial animal agriculture.
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Iowa’s hogs alone produce an estimated 110 billion pounds of manure each year, generating harmful air pollutants and contaminating local waterways. I report on the latest study linking CAFOs to higher cancer rates for Sentient: sentientmedia.org/cancer-rates...
Cancer Rates Are Higher Near Factory Farms, Study Finds
In California, Texas and Iowa, cancer rates are 4-8% higher in areas with more industrial animal agriculture.
sentientmedia.org
In Morris, Minnesota, Riverview hopes to build the biggest dairy and feedlot in state history. Residents and environmental groups say it could strain regional water resources and worsen pollution. @epayne.bsky.social reports:
Plan for Largest Dairy in Minnesota History Raises Water and Pollution Concerns
Riverview’s mega-dairy expansion in Morris would store 250 million gallons of liquid manure and use water volumes equal to 75% of the local supply.
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Minnesota officials seek public input as critics say the state's current rule to prevent agricultural nitrate pollution has failed to curb water contamination. @epayne.bsky.social reports:
Minnesota Asks the Public Whether Groundwater Rule Is Enough to Curb Farm Fertilizer Pollution, Following Lawsuit
Officials seek public input as critics say current rule has failed to reduce nitrate pollution.
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A new poll found that 82% of Iowa voters are more likely to support an elected official who makes protecting clean water a top priority — including by cutting industrial agriculture pollution. @epayne.bsky.social reports:
Key Iowa Swing Districts in U.S. House Could Hinge on Water Quality and Cancer Concerns
In a new poll, 82% of Iowa voters want their elected official to protect clean water and cut pollution from industrial agriculture.
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