We need smaller, diversified farms

To the editor:

Kudos to you for all recent articles about confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and the need to eliminate them. These articles, starting with 'A lesson in food vulnerability” by Rich Patterson (May 15) and ending with 'Bird flu's economic impact starting to be felt” by James Q. Lynch (May 23), point out the inhumane treatment of farm animals and the disease associated with them.

However, none of the authors mentioned the underlying causes: free markets and free trade. These two causes pit farmers against one another economically.

We need more smaller and diversified farms such as the ones run by Amish farmers in this area. They are models that treat animals humanely and provide safe foods for us.

Jim Slitor

Decorah