Environmental activists and those concerned about animal welfare are touting a return to pasture-based livestock farming as a more environmentally and financially sustainable alternative to the current large-scale "industrial" agribusinesses raising most of our meat these days.
On Tuesday (May 4), a former Eastern Shore chicken farmer, a rancher and two writers will be hashing out the growth and prospects of this new-old movement. "Green Pastures, Bright Future: Taking the Meat We Eat Out of the Factory and Putting it Back on the Farm" is the longish title for the panel discussion 6 p.m. at the Pew Conference Center, 901 E. Street NW in Washington.
The former Shore chicken farmer on the panel is Carole Morrison, who was featured in the Oscar-nominated documentary, "Food Inc." Also on the panel is Dr. Patricia Whisnant, rancher, veterinarian and president of the American Grassfed Association. The writers are David Kirby, author of Animal Factory, and Nicolette Hahn Niman, author of Righteous Porkchop.
The event is free and open to the public, but space is limited, so RSVPs in advance are required. To reserve a place or for more info, go to www.AnimalWelfareApproved.org
(2006 AP photo of dairy cattle grazing on organic farm in Minnesota)