Large farms raising pigs and other livestock have become a major source of pollution in some areas.  If manure is natural and good for the soil, why is this now a problem?  Should manure be managed as if it were dangerous pollution from a factory?  That would be a big change for farmers,  but things are going in that direction. Clemson even has a certificate program for Animal Manure Managers.  The question you need to answer if you pick this topic is how should we balance the needs of farmers, the needs of their neighbors, and the potential for damage to the environment to deal with the problem of animal waste from large farms.

The Problem:

http://www.environmentaldefense.org/subissue.cfm?subissue=10

http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/nspills.asp


http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/ffarms.asp

http://www.fass.org/FASStrack/news_item.asp?news_id=1238

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0215/p02s01-uspo.html

http://www.consumersunion.org/other/animal/animal2.htm

Opposing views:

http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=14861

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/election98/pig_11-2.html

http://www.hudson.org/American_Outlook/index.cfm?fuseaction=article_detail&id=1167

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/1998/03/09/story3.html?t=printable

http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/February06/Findings/findings_re1.htm

http://nationalhogfarmer.com/mag/farming_roadblocks_stumbling_blocks/index.html

http://nationalhogfarmer.com/news/farming_epa_plan_seriously/index.html

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