Editor:

Re: "Pig farming studied for answers to swine flu," Oct. 26.

After reading this article, it's no wonder most people get disinformation and confusion about how our food is produced, and why we have a food safety problem in the U.S.

The statement CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations) like Schott's are inherently safer than back-yard pig farms is hog wash, pun intended. Small outdoor family farms have fresh air and sun, something CAFOs don't. What is sanitary about thousands of pigs penned up in a building wading in their own waste?

From what I read there was no mention of how the pigs are pumped full of antibiotics because of the breeding ground for pathogens, because of the large concentration of animal waste. Ask a person who has lived next to a CAFO how inherently sanitary it is. Besides the stench in the air, living close to these CAFOs raises the risk of respiratory infections because of the micro organisms in the air.

Pigs raised outdoors would naturally have healthier immune systems, precautions would be needed outside also; the question to ask, is there more risk from 100-200 pigs outdoors on a small farm, or from thousands of pigs living in a closed building wading in their own waste and given antibiotics?

The issue of antibiotic resistance comes to play also. Even someone who doesn't pig farm could see the small farm outdoors would be less risky. The eradication of the small family farm started in the early '70s with Earl Butz proclaiming get big or get out.

To break through the lies and disinformation, and to see how pigs and other farm animals were meant to live, read the outstanding book, "Everything I want to do is Illegal," by Joel Salatin, a lifelong sustainable family farmer in Virginia, or visit their Web site, www.polyfacefarm.com. Also read ACRES USA magazine, or visit their Web site, www.acresusa.com.

For real information on sustainable farming, not big agribusiness propaganda that says their way is the only way/right way to raise pigs or other farm animals, that also includes vegetable and fruit farming, I would like to see the Tribune do an article on Polyface Farm, or 4 Seasons Farm, a year-round organic farm in Maine.

STEVE G. FORD, Casper