Nationwide, the country suffers from a staggering $1.8
billion dollars of damages each year to the nation's farms. The
culprit of such destruction, wild boar. In the state of Michigan alone, there
are over 3,000 wild boars running havoc and damaging farm land. The main
species of boar that is so responsible for such carnage is the
Russian boar. Thus, the state’s Department of Natural Resources has taken steps
to place the Russian boar species on the invasive list, making it therefore
illegal for anyone to raise and keep the swine. At first glance it seems like a
perfectly reasonable action to take in order to preserve the thriving
agriculture of the state, but of course such actions come with
unintended consequences. There are in fact farmers such as Mark Baker,
who has made a comfortable living off of raising swine for human
consumption. Because of the new order, farmers like Blake
will undoubtedly lose their entire business and
investments and will additionally be charged with fines and jail if they do
not comply with the new law. Furthermore, the DNR did not mean to
hurt the swine industry and thus
have guidelines when identifying pigs that are of
the Russian boar species
but unfortunately these guidelines have been sighted by
many critics as being too vague. Ultimately there is now a law suit that has
been filed by Baker and four other cases against Michigan DNR
and if the judge rules in Baker's favor, it will ultimately end the
Invasive Species Order.
The writer's
purpose to this article is most likely to enlighten readers on what is
happening agriculturally, economically, and environmentally in
the Nation. The writer is revealing that there are many Americans that go
through economic hardships due to new state laws and environmental troubles.
Furthermore, by creating this article it shows that there are two sides to
every coin. Just because the Wild boar is a danger to farms
and environment it doesn't mean it is not a benefit to
other types of people and farmers. Moreover, the article
is defiantly intended for readers that have interest
in agriculture, environment, and individual rights of people. The readers
with those interests in mind would therefore read
the article to get a better understanding of
job opportunities (raising swine), states powers (making an animal
illegal), and what other problems cost the country money (wild pigs damaging
farms). Furthermore, in order to provide the reader with more evidence about
wild boars and their effects on the environment, the authors
used several sources. For example, the author used quotes from experts of wild
boars to comment and support a point against the DNR a couple times. And not
surprisingly also quoted the DNR's statements about the new order
and their own perspective on how they are trying to help, not hurt
the local agricultural industry. Moreover, through reading the article,
there is a sense that the writers show a cultural understanding for both the
swine farmers and the state. The farmer is just trying to take care of his
family and maintain a business, whereas the state is trying to
protect the overall environment. Though the solution to the boar infestation is
harsh, it is still necessary for the greater good of the country. The
writer shapes the article to portray to the readers' reading it that if
Baker wins the case, the repercussions from putting down the Invasive
Species Order may have even a greater destructive repercussion on
farmers nationwide.
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