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What's for Dinner?

As a longtime family dairy farmer, I'm angered by TIME's biased attack on agriculture [Aug. 31]. There's no question that farming, like every industry, has changed--but the change is driven by a passion for our profession. My father, brothers and I are committed to doing what's right for our community, animals and natural resources while producing products that are safe, affordable and healthy. Modern technology enhances individual animal care; for example, I can access a whole health history for each cow from my cell phone. Modern free-stall housing keeps our animals comfortable and healthy--protecting them from weather extremes, predators and disease. We're dedicated to minimizing our impact on the environment too--from reusing 10 million gallons of groundwater each year to applying nutrients from manure to grow our crops. Change? Yes. Compromise? No. Ray Prock Jr., DENAIR, CALIF.

Your cover story is long overdue. Although I am of limited means, I can think of no more impoverishing act than buying cheap, conventional meats and produce because organic food is "too expensive." We spend thousands of dollars on items we don't need and become morbidly obese on junk food yet argue that we can't feed our children healthy alternatives because the cost is too high. Guess what: the cost to our families--and to the earth--of forgoing organic food is a lot higher. John Lipman, BREWSTER, MASS.

Where are the interviews with the "factory farmers"? My family and I are among the thousands of beef producers across the country who have raised beef "in prison-like conditions," yet there was not a single quote from one of us. Warren Symens, AMHERST, S.D.

I was glad to read your story, but you forgot the importance of buying local products. Farming in America is not broken down into small organic farms and massive factories. Hundreds of small family farms provide safe, healthy food to their communities, even though they do not farm organically. These farmers rely on pasturing, sanitary conditions and care to keep their animals healthy and happy, without depleting the environment. While local food will always cost more, it is often more affordable and offers many of the health benefits of organic food. Emily Everett, WILLIAMSBURG, VA.

People have eaten meat three times a day for generations. They are fat now because they don't exercise and eat overprocessed food. The feedlot cattle you speak of become finer cuts of meat because corn gives the meat flavor. There is now less erosion in farmland than ever before. Yet we produce more food, cheaper than ever. If it worked that way in medicine, we wouldn't have a health-care crisis. Marcia Gorrell, MARSHALL, MO.

We take great care of our land and our cattle. Our livelihood depends on it. No one is a better steward of them than their owners, who depend on them to stay in business. I'm certain those folks who struggle to feed their children don't mind that American farmers are churning out "cheap" food. David Oborny, MARION, KANS.

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