Glossary

Brought to you by Sustainable Table

AFO
Abbreviation for Animal Feeding Operation, which is an agricultural business where animals are raised in confined situations and fed an unnatural diet, instead o f allow in g them to roa m e EPA determines whether an agricultural business is an AFO based on regulations created by the Clean Water Act.

Agribusiness
A fairly new term that combines agriculture and business. In the past, agriculture has been treated as something completely separate from other types of business . Over the past 50 years, factory farm companies have been replacing traditional agriculture, so now we need new words and new ways of thinking about agriculture to describe where our food comes from.

Antibiotic-free
No antibiotics were administered to the animal during its lifetime. If an animal becomes sick, it will be taken out of the herd and treated but it will not be sold with this label.

Antibiotic resistance
Bacteria's ability to mutate in order to survive treatment with antibiotics. Over time, bacteria are able to change their characteristics so that antibiotics cannot kill them. This process happens faster when antibiotics are used very frequently, especially at low doses over long periods of time, which is common on factory farms where antibiotics are added to feed.

Antibiotics
Medicines created using microbes or fungi that are weakened and taken into the body to destroy harmful bacteria.

Arsenic
To control infections and increase weight gain, chickens are fed compounds containing arsenic, listed as a known carcinogen in the U.S. Department of Health's 9th Report on Carcinogens. Most is excreted in chicken manure, which is piled into rows or used as fertilizer on fields, then contributing a huge quantity of arsenic to the environment annually.

Beyond Organic
When the US government officially approved standards for organic food, a number of farmers dropped their organic certification because they felt the organic label had been co-opted by big business, and there was a burdensome amount of paperwork that they could not keep up with. Many of these farmers raise their animals and crops using methods that are even stricter than the USDA organic standards. There has been an effort to categorize these farmers, so some people are now calling these types of farms “Beyond Organic”.

Biodynamics
This holistic method of agriculture is certified by a third-party agency and is based on the philosophy that all aspects of the farm should be treated as an interrelated whole. Having emerged as the first non-chemical agricultural movement approximately 20 years before the development of “organic” agriculture, biodynamics has now spread throughout the world. Biodynamic farmers work in harmony with nature and use a variety of techniques, such as crop rotation and on-farm composting, to foster a sustainable and productive environment. Read sustainable table’s featured article on biodynamics or visit the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association for more information.

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)
Commonly referred to as Mad Cow Disease, a cattle disease that causes the brain to waste away. It takes about 4-7 years for cattle to show symptoms of the disease after being exposed to it, but once symptoms become visible the cattle die within weeks. One way this disease is spread is by feeding the meat from infected cattle to other cattle (meat from infected sheep may also cause the disease). This was a common practice on factory farms until the 1980s and 1990s when it was outlawed in most countries because it was found to cause BSE. At that time, thousands of cattle, believed to have been exposed to BSE, were killed to prevent further spread of the disease. Consuming beef from infected cattle causes a brain-wasting disease called new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) in humans.

CAFO
Abbreviation for Confined Animal Feeding Operation, which is an agricultural business where animals are raised in confined situations and fed an unnatural diet, instead of allowing them to roam and graze. This is an operation that is considered more hazardous than an AFO for one or more reasons, such as the number of animals or the location of the facility, its proximity to surface water and potential to discharge waste into that water. The EPA determines whether an agricultural business is a CAFO based on regulations created by the Clean Water Act, and special permits have to be given for the owners to operate a CAFO legally. Enforcement of these regulations has not been very strict, which has caused many problems.

Cage-Free
Birds are raised without cages. What this doesn’t explain is if the birds were raised outdoors on pasture, if they had access to outside, or if they were raised indoors in overcrowded conditions. If you are looking to buy eggs, poultry or meat that was raised outdoors, look for a label that says “Pastured” or “Pasture-raised”.

Clean Air Act
Set of laws passed in 1970 to regulate air pollution in the US. The goal of this act was to improve air quality, and it was revised in 1990 to be more detailed about issues such as the hole in the ozone layer and acid rain.

Clean Water Act
Set of laws passed in 1972 to regulate water pollution in the US. This was the first-ever federal regulation of water pollution, and it gave the EPA the right to set standards and enforce them. The goal of this act was to completely stop the discharge of pollutants into the Waters of the United States and make all bodies of water in the US fishable and swimmable. Making this happen is very difficult and expensive because it's not always easy to find out who is polluting.

Contract grower
Farmer who makes an agreement with an agribusiness company, giving the company the power to make all the farm's decisions, including which animals are raised there, what they are fed, and how they are treated. In return the company pays the farmer and buys the supplies.

Cover crops
Crops that are grown not to be harvested for food, but to cover and protect soil surface and prevent soil erosion.

Country of Origin Labeling
If approved, this initiative would require beef, lamb, pork, fish, perishable agricultural commodities, and peanuts to be labeled with the country in which they were produced. In addition to providing consumers with valuable information about their food, Country of Origin Labeling would help to promote locally-produced meat and would enable meat to be more easily traced in the event of a recall or an outbreak of disease.

Crop rotation
The practice of alternating different crops in a field in planned cycles in order to regulate nitrogen levels, prevent soil erosion, reduce fertilizer needs and improve the overall long-term productivity of the land.

CSA
Abbreviation for Community Supported Agriculture, A system in which consumers support a local farm by paying in advance for agricultural products. This reduces the financial risks for the farmer because the costs of seeds and planting crops are covered in advance by consumers. Throughout the growing season, CSA members receive a portion of the farm's harvest each week. Members share the financial risks and the bounty of the harvest -- if it is a successful growing season, they receive a lot of food; if there are fewer crops, they receive less. Members are also encouraged to visit the farm and some even volunteer there.

Dead Zone
An area in the Gulf of Mexico where oxygen levels are so low that most marine organisms cannot survive. One of the primary causes is runoff from farms in the Mississippi watershed.

Dioxins
Dioxins are a man-made pollutant with an array of health risks in humans. Potent toxics, they act as endocrine disruptors (interfering with the body's natural hormone signals), damage the immune system, and may affect reproduction and childhood development. Dioxins are "persistent" compounds which drift around the world, and then tend to accumulate in fatty tissues of animals and humans. 95% of typical human exposure comes through dietary intake of animal fats such as meat, dairy and eggs.

Diversification
Method of farming that involves more than one agricultural product.

Downers
Animals that collapse during transportation or at the slaughterhouse, too stressed or sick to continue walking. Because normal animals fetch a higher price at the market, downers are frequently kicked or prodded in attempts to force them to move. Those that do not move may be left on the ground without food or water for days before they die. Downers are routinely processed for human consumption.

E. Coli
A species of bacteria that lives in the intestines of people and other vertebrates (animals with spines). Although the bacteria that naturally exist in your intestines are harmless and helpful in digestion, eating or drinking E. coli that comes from outside, such as in polluted water or meat that has not been processed safely, can cause severe food poisoning or even death.

Eco-labeling
A method of identifying products that cause less damage to the environment than other products (such as Fair Trade, organic, Food Alliance certified, raised without antibiotics, etc.). There exists a wide selection of eco-labels with different criteria and varying degrees of legitimacy. While some labels indicate that food was produced according to strict guidelines enforced and verified by third-party food-certifying agencies, other labels are self-awarded by food producers. For additional information about eco-labels, visit the Consumers Union Guide to Environmental Labels.

Efficiency
An economic term for conditions that create the biggest possible profit with the smallest possible costs. This is an important idea in industry, since the goal of any business is to make as much money as possible and avoid wasting anything -- think of wastefulness as the opposite of efficiency.

Effluent
Liquid waste, often from a factory or sewer. This is a term that is often used to refer to the urine and manure that is pumped into or out of a lagoon.

Electronic Pasteurization or Electronically Pasteurized
Means t he food has been irradiated. See Treated by Irradiation below.

E PA
Env ironmental Protection Agency. A part of the US federal governmen t that enf orces environmental laws and provides information and guidance to policy makers.

Externality
A cost or benefit of a product or service that is not included in its price. For instance, a negative externality of a factory farm is the enormous amount of pollution it generates; although the pollution increases health care costs and necessitates expensive cleanup efforts; these costs are not paid by the consumers who purchase food produced by these farms or by the owners of the factory farms. Instead, the costs are borne by society. On the other hand, a positive externality of a sustainable farm is the preservation of unpolluted, undeveloped greenspace; although society enjoys the benefits of these areas (preservation of biodiversity, protection of clean water, aesthetic appeal, etc.), no one provides compensation to the farmers who maintain the land.

Factory farm
A large-scale industrial site where many animals (generally chickens, turkeys, cattle, or pigs) are confined and treated with hormones and antibiotics to maximize growth and prevent disease. The animals produce much more waste than the surrounding land can handle. These operations are associated with various environmental hazards as well as cruelty to animals. The government calls these facilities Concentrated (or Confined) Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a CAFO as "new and existing operations which stable or confine and feed or maintain for a total of 45 days or more in any 12-month period more than the number of animals specified" in categories that they list out. In addition, "there's no grass or other vegetation in the confinement area during the normal growing season."

Family farm / Small farm
Defined by the USDA as a farm with less than $250,000 gross receipts annually on which day-to-day labor and management is provided by the farmer and/or the farm family that owns the production or owns or leases the productive assets.

FDA
Food and Drug Administration. This government agency regulates industries and labels food and related items such as medicines and cosmetics.

Feedlots
Buildings, lots, or a combination of buildings and lots in which animals are confined for feeding, breeding, raising, and/or holding. The concentration of hundreds or thousands of animals in a confined feedlot facility drastically reduces the welfare of these animals, creates health risks, promotes the spread of disease, and yields tremendous quantities of animal waste, which pollutes the natural environment and threatens human health.

Finishing
The process through which an animal gains weight prior to slaughter. On factory farms, animals are generally finished on a pure grain-based diet, which induces rapid weight gain and creates the "marbled" layers of fat in beef to which consumers are accustomed. However, cows and other ruminants are naturally adapted to eat grasses; large quantities of grain cause them to develop high levels of acidity within their digestive tracts, leading to a number of health problems. Sustainably raised animals are finished on pasture, where they consume the grasses and other plants that their bodies are best adapted to digest. Research has shown that meat and dairy products from grass-fed animals are better for human health than foods from grain fed animals. Note: Grass-fed, grain-supplemented animals are also raised on pasture, but are given access to controlled amounts of grain during the finishing period and do not encounter the health problems that animals fed a pure grain diet can face.

Fishkill
Sudden death of a significant number of fish or other aquatic life such as crabs or shrimp within one area. A Fishkill can be caused by many different changes in the environment, including pollution, temperature change and change in acidity.

Food Alliance
Meats labeled "The Food Alliance Approved" were raised on ranches that preserve soil and water quality, and were provided access to fresh air, pasture, and comfortable living quarters, without artificial hormones, rBGH, or unnecessary antibiotics. Third-party inspectors verify this claim. (www.thefoodalliance.org) Meats are available in some farmers' markets and natural foods stores in the Northwest and Midwest; online store also sells products.

Free range
This term refers to animals (usually poultry, and the eggs that they produce) that are not confined, meaning that these animals are able to go outdoors to engage in natural behaviors. It does not necessarily mean that the products are cruelty-free or antibiotic-free, or that the animals spend the majority of their time outdoors. The use of the term "free range" is only defined by the USDA for poultry production, and need only mean that the bird has had some access to the outdoors each day, which could be a dirty or concrete feedlot. USDA considers five minutes of open-air access each day to be adequate. Claims are defined by USDA, but are not verified by third party inspectors.

Free walkers
These hens are housed indoors. They can move around, and have unlimited access to food, similar to "cage-free".

Genetic engineering
The science of changing the DNA of a plant or animal to produce desirable characteristics. Examples of desirable characteristics include fast growth and unusually large size. This is a very controversial science that many believe has not been adequately tested and studied. In addition, not everyone agrees that the plants and animals that are genetically engineered are safe for humans to eat or safe for the environment if released.

Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)
A plant or animal that has been genetically engineered. Many industries support the development and use of GMOs while many consumers and organizations question their safety and have called for adequate and independent testing of GMO products. It is legal for farmers in the U.S. and some other countries like Argentina to produce and sell certain GMOs for human and animal consumption, but in other places like Europe and Japan, they are banned until further testing can be done to prove they are safe.

GMO-Free or No GMOs
The product was produced without the use of GMOs (genetically-modified organisms). For more information, visit the Genetic Engineering page in the Issues section.

Grain-fed
The animal was raised on a diet of grain and the grain could be supplemented with animal byproducts and other miscellaneous matter such as cement dust and/or euthanized cats and dogs. Since mad cow disease is thought to be transmitted through animal byproducts added to cattle feed, many consumers prefer cows raised on a strictly vegetarian diet. However, unless the label says, “100 Percent Vegetarian Diet,” there is no guarantee that the animal’s feed was not supplemented with animal byproducts or is organic. In addition, cattle are ruminants and eat grass; they cannot digest grains properly and can become sick if fed a diet of only grain. Although large-scale, confined grain feedlots enable industrial meat producers to fatten their animals quickly, they also foster disease within the cattle population, creating the need for antibiotics and increasing the risk of E. Coli contamination. Grain-fed animals tend to be raised on factory farms and should be avoided.

Grain Finished
Cattle who are fed only grain before slaughter. Some producers raise their animals on pasture but then feed them grain for a certain amount of time before slaughter. Grain increases the fat content in meat and creates the taste most people are currently accustomed to.

Grass-fed
Animals graze on pasture and eat grasses. They should not be supplemented with grain, animal by-products, synthetic hormones, or be given antibiotics to promote growth or prevent disease (though they might be given antibiotics to treat disease). This is the same as pastured or pasture raised.

Grass Fed/Grain Supplemented
Animals are raised on pasture and eat grasses. At a certain point, grains are slowly introduced into the diet in a controlled amount, along with the grasses. By controlling the amount of grain, the animals do not become sick and do not develop digestion problems that solely grain-fed cattle can encounter. They are also not forced to eat the grain.

Heritage
Heritage foods are derived from rare and endangered breeds of livestock and crops. Animals are purebreds and are a specific breed of animal that is near extinction. True heritage farmers use sustainable production methods, but production standards are not required by law. This method of production saves animals from extinction and preserves genetic diversity.

Groundwater
Water that exists beneath the earth's surface in underground streams and aquifers.

Heavy metals
Metallic chemicals like cadmium, arsenic, copper and zinc that can be harmful pollutants when they enter soil and water. These chemicals are put into animal feed to help make animals grow faster. Heavy metals are present in human and animal waste and can enter the environment if waste is released without being treated. Animal waste is never treated to remove heavy metals. Once in the environment, heavy metals are almost impossible to get rid of because they do not decompose.

Holistic Management
A decision making framework that assists farmers and others in establishing a long-term goal, a detailed financial plan, a biological plan for the landscape and a monitoring program to assess progress toward the goal. See ATTRA for more information.

Hormones
Chemicals found naturally in animals' bodies that control processes like growth and metabolism. Synthetic (man-made) hormones have been developed for a number of purposes, including treatment of hormonal disorders in people, and also for promotion of unnaturally fast growth in farm animals. One of the most well-known and controversial hormones used in farming is recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone or rBGH, which is genetically engineered and injected into dairy cattle. (See rBGH.) Scientists have linked excess hormones to cancer.

Hormone Free
The USDA has prohibited use of the term “Hormone Free,” but meats can be labeled “No Hormones Administered.”

Impoundment
A large pond or lake, sometimes 50 to 100 acres, constructed to water the hogs at hog confinement facilities.

Independent family farm
Farm on which the ownership and management are controlled by at least one family member who lives on the farm, not by a corporation or absentee owner.

IPM (Integrated pest management)
Natural pest control methods, such as habitat manipulation, biological control, and pest-resistant plants, are used to eliminate pest problems. Pesticides are used in the smallest possible amounts only when other techniques prove inadequate.

Irradiation
Exposure to radiation. Meat is sometimes irradiated to kill microorganisms and reduce the number of microbes present due to unsanitary practices, but this process alters the nutritional quality and creates new chemicals that can be harmful to the humans who consume the meat. Many believe that there has not been enough testing to know whether irradiated food is safe for humans. For more information, visit our Food Irradiation Issues page or Food and Watch Watch's food irradiation page.

Lagoon
A huge, manmade hole in the ground created to hold a mixture of water and animal waste until it can be applied to land. These can be as big as several square acres (1 acre = 43,560 square feet) and hold 20-25 million gallons of liquid waste. This is equivalent to more than 98 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Lagoons are generally not covered and frequently leak into the surrounding soil or groundwater, so they are associated with air, water and soil pollution.

Mastitis
Common bacterial infection among dairy cows that causes the udder to be painful and swollen. It is associated with overproduction of milk, and cows that are injected with rBGH are prone to mastitis. Mastitis is treated with antibiotics, which contributes to the problem of antibiotic resistance because traces of the drugs end up in the milk.

Methane
A gas given off by animal waste. It can be used as fuel, but the process to turn it into fuel is very expensive, so this is not done very often. Methane is a greenhouse gas, which means that it contributes to global warming.

Mobile Meat Processing Unit
A slaughterhouse in a trailer that can be moved from one farm to another in order to accommodate small farmers and ranchers. The units drastically reduce the stress animals endure from being transported long distances.

Molting / Forced molting
Part of a hen's natural reproductive cycle. After laying eggs for about a year, a hen loses her feathers and rests for a few weeks as new feathers grow in. This is called molting, or a molt, and it usually happens at the beginning of winter. On factory farms, hens are subjected to forced molting, where farm operators cause this process to happen rapidly by depriving hens of food and water for several days and altering the schedule of light and darkness in the confinement building. This way, all the hens molt simultaneously and over a very short time period.

Monoculture
Monoculture is the destruction of a diverse ecosystem and replacement with a single species or crop. This is common practice in modern agriculture, where large acreages of crops are grown for sale to other regions or countries. Monocultures deplete the soil, and fruits and vegetables become more susceptible to pests and disease than those grown in a diverse crop environment, thus requiring larger amounts of chemical sprays.

Natural
Currently, no standards exist for this label except when used on meat and poultry products. USDA guidelines state that “Natural” meat and poultry products can only undergo minimal processing and cannot contain artificial colors, artificial flavors, preservatives, or other artificial ingredients. However, “natural” foods are not necessarily sustainable, organic, humanely raised, or free of hormones and antibiotics. The label “natural” is virtually meaningless.

New variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD)
Disease in humans that causes the brain to waste away, caused by eating meat infected with Mad Cow Disease (BSE) or other related animal diseases. It was first detected in 1994, and although it is still not known how much time it takes for symptoms to show up after a person is exposed, some scientists say it may take up to 40 years, so it is still not known how many people have been infected. Read more about BSE and vCJD in our issues section.

Nitrates
Chemicals made up of oxygen, nitrogen and other elements. When chemicals containing nitrogen (for example, ammonia) combine with water, nitrates are usually formed, and these nitrates can cause serious illness or even death if large amounts are consumed. Nitrate poisoning is usually caused by drinking water contaminated with nitrates. The primary sources of nitrate pollution are human waste and manure, especially runoff from factory farms. Processed meat also often contains nitrates, which are used to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and to enhance the color. Eating meat that has been treated with nitrates may cause health problems including cancer, migraines, high cholesterol and hyperactivity.

No antibiotics administered, raised without antibiotics or antibiotic-free
No antibiotics were administered to the animal during its lifetime. If an animal becomes sick, it will be taken out of the herd and treated but it will not be sold with this label. For more information, read the Antibiotics page in the Issues section.

No Hormones Administered or No Added Hormones - Animals were raised without added growth hormones. By law, hogs and poultry cannot be given any hormones - so the use of the label on these meats is misleading! To ensure that other meats were raised without added hormones, ask your farmer or butcher. For more information, visit the Hormones page.

No-till farming
The practice of planting new crops amidst cuttings of old crops and not plowing the field in order to slow the release of carbon dioxide and diminish the greenhouse effect. No-till and low-till practices also increase the retention of water and nutrients, allowing earthworms and other organisms to proliferate and keep the soil healthy.

Non-point source pollution
Harmful substances that are carried by rain and snow moving over and through the earth and end up in groundwater, rivers, lakes or the ocean. These substances come from various sources and can be natural or man-made. They're called non-point source because instead of being dumped directly from a house or factory into a body of water, the pollutant is diluted and transported by the natural cycle of precipitation.

Non-therapeutic Antibiotics
Antibiotics administered to animals for purposes other than the treatment of existing illness. Factory farms routinely administer non-therapeutic antibiotics to their animals in order to boost growth rates and to prevent the outbreak of diseases, which would otherwise run rampant within crowded, unsanitary factory farm facilities. The use of non-therapeutic antibiotics promotes the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, causing antibiotics used to treat humans to become less effective. For more information, read the Antibiotics page in the Issues section.

Nutrient pollution
Contamination of water by too many nutrients, which often come from fertilizer or waste runoff. In surface waters, this can cause overproduction of algae (this is called an algal bloom), which uses up all the oxygen in the water and suffocates fish and other marine life.

Organic
In order to be la bel ed “organic,” a product, its producer, and the farmer must meet the USDA’s organic standards and must be certified by a USDA-approved food-certifying agency. Organic foods cannot be grown using synthetic fertilizers, chemicals, or sewage sludge, cannot be genetically modified, and cannot be irradiated. Organic meat and poultry must be fed only organically grown feed (without any animal byproducts) and cannot be treated with hormones or antibiotics. Furthermore, the animals must have access to the outdoors, and ruminants must have access to pasture (which doesn’t mean they actually have to go outdoors and graze on pasture to be considered organic. See also "USDA Certified Organic".) For more information, read the Organic page in the Issues section.

Pastured or Pasture-Raised
Indicates the animal was raised on a pasture and that it ate grasses and food found in a pasture, rather than being fattened on grain in a feedlot or barn. Pasturing livestock and poultry is a traditional farming technique that allows animals to be raised in a humane, ecologically sustainable manner. This is basically the same as grass-fed, though the term pasture-raised indicates more clearly that the animal was raised outdoors on pasture. (See Grass-Fed)

Pathogens
Microorganisms that cause disease.

Pesticides
Poultry houses attract many types of pest (lice, rodents, roaches, etc.) and birds receive frequent doses of insecticides to combat these unwanted vermin. There are legal limits set for pesticide residues in the poultry products obtained from these facilities, but testing is infrequent. For more information, read the Pesticides page in the Issues section.

Pollutant
Any substance that causes harm to the environment when it mixes with soil, water, or air.

Raised without added hormones

No antibiotics were administered to the animal during its lifetime. If an animal becomes sick, it will be taken out of the herd and treated but it will not be sold with this label. For more information, read the Antibiotics page in the Issues section.

Raised without antibiotics

Raised Without the Routine Use of Antibiotics
Antibiotics were not given to the animal to promote growth or to prevent disease, but may have been administered if the animal became ill. For more information, read the Antibiotics page in the Issues section.

rBGH
Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone, also called recombinant Bovine Somatotropin (rBST). This is a genetically engineered hormone that is injected into dairy cows to increase their milk production. Cows injected with rBGH have shorter life spans and are much more likely to suffer from udder infections. rBGH is only legal in three countries: the United States, South Africa, and Mexico. RBGH has been banned in Canada, the European Union and elsewhere because of inadequate testing and some evidence that it leads to cancer. See the rBGH page in the Issues section for more information.

rBGH-Free or rBST-Free
rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone) is a genetically engineered growth hormone that is injected into dairy cows to artificially increase their milk production. The hormone has not been properly tested for safety. Milk labeled “rBGH-Free” is produced by dairy cows that never received injections of this hormone. Organic milk is rBGH free. (rBST stands for recombinant bovine somatotropin.) See the rBGH page in the Issues section for more information.

Rotational grazing
The practice of moving animals between two paddocks, so that each paddock undergoes a short grazing period followed by a longer rest period. The practice protects pastures from overgrazing and reduces soil erosion.

Ruminant
Ruminants are hoofed animals with four-chambered stomachs, which enable them to digest cellulose. After eating, ruminants regurgitate a semi-digested material called cud, which they chew, then eat again. Cows, goats, sheep, bison, deer, camels, llamas, and giraffes are all ruminants. These animals eat a pure vegetarian diet.

Runoff
Water from precipitation or irrigation that flows over the ground and into bodies of water. It can contribute to soil erosion and carry harmful pollutants.

Salmonella
A type of bacteria that causes food poisoning and is commonly found in meat and animal waste, particularly poultry.

Self-Certified
The farmer makes claims such as “No hormones administered”, but there is no outside verification of the claims, meaning the consumer believes the farmer at his or her word. Many reliable, legitimate sustainable farmers are self certified, but it’s still best to know your farmer, butcher and/or to trust the brand you buy. Visit stable table’s Questions to Ask section for a list of questions and answers to ask your producer and/or farmer.

Small farm/Family farm
Farm that earns no more than $250,000 per year and on which the day-to-day labor and management is provided by the farmer and/or farm family that owns or leases the production or production equipment. This does not necessarily mean that the farm is organic or cruelty free, or even that it is not controlled by a major agricultural company. Many family farmers have become contract growers.

Sprayfield
Land where animal waste from the lagoon is applied. High-powered hoses are used to spray the animal waste up in the air; the waste particles can travel many miles before settling onto the land.

Subtherapeutic
Below the dosage levels used to treat diseases. E.g.: subtherapeutic feeding of penicillin to livestock. See antibiotics and hormones.

Surface water
Water that sits or flows above the earth, including lakes, oceans, rivers, and streams.

Sustainability
The ability to provide for the needs of the world's current population without damaging the ability of future generations to provide for themselves. When a process is sustainable, it can be carried out over and over without negative environmental effects or impossibly high costs to anyone involved.

Sustainable
A product can be considered sustainable if its production enables the resources from which it was made to continue to be available for future generations. A sustainable product can thus be created repeatedly without generating negative environmental effects, without causing waste products to accumulate as pollution, and without compromising the wellbeing of workers or communities. Many different agricultural techniques can be utilized to help make food production more sustainable. The drawback of the term ‘sustainable’ is that the term lacks a clear-cut, universally accepted, enforceable definition - thus it can be interpreted in different ways. It is more of a philosophy or way of life than a label. See the Introduction to Sustainability section for more information.

Sustainable agriculture
Farming that provides a secure living for farm families; maintains the natural environment and resources; supports the rural community; and offers respect and fair treatment to all involved, from farm workers to consumers to the animals raised for food.

Tail-docking
Common factory farm practice, frequently performed on cattle and pigs, of cutting off half or more of an animal's tail. This prevents pigs from chewing one another's tails and cattle from hitting workers with manure-covered tails. This is a painful procedure, which is not necessary when animals are not confined since they do not exhibit these behaviors. Learn more about Animal Welfare in our Issues section.

Third Party Certified (or Verified)
Food inspected by a company operating independently of the producer or distributor. The third party certification company confirms the legitimacy of claims made by food producers and distributors, thus ensuring that the food labels are meaningful. Organic and Biodynamic Certified are examples of third-party certification. Next to knowing your farmer or butcher, this is the most reliable way to trust the meat you’re eating. The problem is that there are only a few third-party certified labels – to find out what they are, visit the Consumers Union Eco-labels site and click on “View by Label” in the Search by Label green box.

Transitional
A farm or grower who is converting to organic practices but has not yet completed the transition.

Treated by Irradiation or Treated with Radiation
The FDA requires that food treated with irradiation be labeled with one of these phrases and to carry a radura symbol. See the Food Irradiation page for more information and for a picture of the radura. Unfortunately, if you eat at a restaurant or in an institution such as a hospital, you will not know if the food has been irradiated.

USDA
United States Department of Agriculture. The USDA, which was founded by Abraham Lincoln, supports rural development, food safety, nutrition and research for agricultural technology. The agency is also in charge of national forest and rangelands and works to reduce hunger in the US and internationally.

Vacuoles
Microscopic holes in the grey matter of animals infected with spongiform encelepathy. See BSE, mad cow disease, and vCJD.

Vertical Integration
Economic term that is often used to describe a trend in the agriculture industry. When an agriculture corporation is vertically integrated, it is involved in more than one phase of meat production. Many of these big businesses have their own feedlots, slaughterhouses, meatpacking plants, and distributors, so they have complete control over the lives and deaths of the animals they raise.

Wastewater
Water that has been used and thrown away from residential, business or industrial sources. It can contain a variety of waste products like soap, chemicals or manure.

Watershed
Area of land that contributes runoff to a particular, common body of water. (To understand this concept better, you can find a map of the watershed you live in by going to the EPA web site.)