Dispensing antibiotics to healthy animals is routine on the large, concentrated farms that now dominate American agriculture. But the practice is increasingly condemned by medical experts who say it contributes to a growing scourge of modern medicine: the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including dangerous E. coli strains that account for millions of bladder infections each year, as well as resistant types of salmonella and other microbes.

Now, after decades of debate, the Food and Drug Administration appears poised to issue its strongest guidelines on animal antibiotics yet, intended to reduce what it calls a clear risk to human health. They would end farm uses of the drugs simply to promote faster animal growth and call for tighter oversight by veterinarians.

The agency’s final version is expected within months, and comes at a time when animal confinement methods, safety monitoring and other aspects of so-called factory farming are also under sharp attack. The federal proposal has struck a nerve among major livestock producers, who argue that a direct link between farms and human illness has not been proved. The producers are vigorously opposing it even as many medical and health experts call it too timid.

It's coming I think - finally - the health risks of the over concentrated system are now visible and the public are pushing enough to force movement. It will be a long slow battle but like Tobacco - the trend is set.

The question for farmers is what to do? God said to St Paul on the road to Damascus - "Saul Saul it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks" In other words don't work against the trend.

On PEI our pork sector is now very small - I suggest that we help each other go for the alternative to confinement and get into the new space early with a PEI "No Drug" brand.

There is a spot for the small again in this new world of healthy food.