Radio Iowa: A coalition of state and national groups is calling for a ban on so-called “factory farming” in the United States. Adam Mason of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement said large-scale livestock confinements have “decimated” family farms. “Thinking back to the late ’70s, there were over 80,000 family farm operations raising livestock across this state. Today, we have 10,000 factory farms,” Mason said. “That ain’t right.” Mason spoke at a Monday news conference in Des Moines, as did Bill Stowe, CEO and general manager of the Des Moines Water Works.