Minnesota’s actions foreshadow potential farm regulations for Iowa

By Jared Strong, Iowa Capital Dispatch
May 1, 2024
May 1, 2024

Iowa groundwater.jpg — Anhydrous ammonia is a common farm fertilizer used to boost corn yields.
Iowa Capital Dispatch photo by Jared Strong

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

By Jared Strong, Iowa Capital Dispatch

Environmental groups recently asked the federal government to intervene in northeast Iowa, where ag pollution is believed to have contaminated scads of private wells with unhealthy concentrations of nitrate.

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]:26?G:C@?>6?E]@C8^H63C6D^u:=6^xp0$s(p0!6E:E:@?0r@>A=6E6]A57Qm%96:C A6E:E:@?k^2m >:CC@CD @?6 E92E D@F89E E96 D2>6 96=A =2DE J62C 7@C D@FE962DE |:??6D@E2[ H9:49 92D E96 D2>6 A@C@FD E@A@8C2A9J E92E >2<6D :ED 8C@F?5H2E6C >@C6 AC@?6 E@ 4@?E2>:?2E:@? 7C@> E96 DFC7246]k^Am

kAm%92E C6BF6DE AC@>AE65 E96 &]$] t?G:C@?>6?E2= !C@E64E:@? p86?4J E@ 5:C64E |:??6D@E2 E@ 2?2=JK6 E96 D4@A6 @7 E96 AC@3=6>[ AC@G:56 4=62? 5C:?<:?8 H2E6C E@ 27764E65 C6D:56?ED 2?5 56G6=@A =@?86C\E6C> A=2?D E@ AC6G6?E E96 4@?E2>:?2E:@?]k^Am

kAmxE’D =:<6=J E96 t!p H:== 8:G6 E96 D2>6 5:C64E:@? E@ x@H2[ D2:5 p=:4:2 '2DE@[ H2E6C AC@8C2> 5:C64E@C 7@C E96 x@H2 t?G:C@?>6?E2= r@F?4:=[ @?6 @7 E96 8C@FAD E92E A6E:E:@?65]k^Am

kAm“xE :D E96 D2>6 86@=@8:4 7@C>2E:@? — 2 =@E @7 E96 :DDF6D 2C6 E96 D2>6[” '2DE@ D2:5] “w:89 4@?46?EC2E:@?D @7 :?5FDEC:2= 28C:4F=EFC6[ :?E6?D:G6 4C@AA:?8 DJDE6>D 2?5 =:G6DE@4< 724:=:E:6D] %96 D2>6 C:D<D E@ 5C:?<:?8 H2E6C]”k^Am

kAmx@H2 7F?5D 2 AC@8C2> E92E E6DED AC:G2E6 H6==D 2E E96:C @H?6CD’ C6BF6DE 7@C ?:EC2E6 2?5 324E6C:2[ 2?5 E9@D6 E6DED 92G6 D9@H? H:56DAC625 4@?E2>:?2E:@? :? E96 2C62] }@E23=J[ ?62C=J 2 BF2CE6C @7 E9@D6 E6DED :? s6=2H2C6 r@F?EJ 7C@> a_`d E@ a_a_ 925 ?:EC2E6 4@?46?EC2E:@?D E92E 6I466565 `_ >:==:8C2>D A6C =:E6C[ H9:49 :D 2 D276EJ E9C6D9@=5 E@ H9:49 AF3=:4 H2E6C DFAA=:6D >FDE 2596C6]k^Am

Iowa groundwater 2.jpg — Areas of porous bedrock called karst are mostly located in eastern Iowa.
Map courtesy of Iowa DNR

kAmw:89 4@?46?EC2E:@?D :? H2E6C 42? 24FE6=J 27764E :?72?ED[ 2?5 DEF5:6D 92G6 =:?<65 E96> E@ 42?46CD :? 25F=ED]k^Am

kAm$E2E6 @77:4:2=D :? x@H2 92G6 366? C6E:46?E 23@FE E96 A6E:E:@? 2?5 H92E E96J >:89E 5@ :? C6DA@?D6] p DA@<6DA6CD@? 7@C v@G] z:> #6J?@=5D 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ 2 C6BF6DE E@ 4@>>6?E 7@C E9:D 2CE:4=6]k^Am

kAm%96 x@H2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 }2EFC2= #6D@FC46D[ H9:49 @G6CD66D =:G6DE@4< @A6C2E:@?D 2?5 >2?FC6 >2?286>6?E[ 564=:?65 E@ 4@>>6?E 23@FE E96 A6E:E:@?]k^Am

kAmp DA@<6DA6CD@? 7@C E96 x@H2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 p8C:4F=EFC6 2?5 {2?5 $E6H2C5D9:A 5:5 ?@E 5:C64E=J 255C6DD E96 A6E:E:@? 3FE D2:5 E96 56A2CE>6?E’D 677@CED E@ DAFC 72C>6CD E@ G@=F?E2C:=J :>A=6>6?E 4@?D6CG2E:@? AC24E:46D 92D 2446=6C2E65 :? C646?E J62CD]k^Am

k9cm(92E’D 92AA6?65 :? |:??6D@E2k^9cm

kAm%96 t!p 5:C64E65 |:??6D@E2 E@ E2<6 24E:@? :? }@G6>36C[ 23@FE D:I >@?E9D 27E6C :E C646:G65 E96 A6E:E:@? C682C5:?8 E92E DE2E6]k^Am

kAm|:??6D@E2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]962=E9]DE2E6]>?]FD^4@>>F?:E:6D^6?G:C@?>6?E^H2E6C^5@4D^H6==D^H2E6CBF2=:EJ^6A2H@C<A=2?]A57Qm92D D2:5k^2m :E H:== — 2>@?8 @E96C 24E:@?D — 252AE :ED G@=F?E2CJ DF886DE:@?D 2?5 C68F=2E@CJ C6BF:C6>6?ED 7@C =:G6DE@4< @A6C2E:@?D 2?5 E96 DAC625:?8 @7 >2?FC6 2?5 4@>>6C4:2= 76CE:=:K6CD @? 7:6=5D]k^Am

kAm%92E :?4=F56D A@E6?E:2= 492?86D E@ :ED 7665=@E CF=6D E92E 8@G6C? >2?FC6 92?5=:?8 2?5 9@H >F49 @7 2?5 H96C6 E96 >2?FC6 42? 36 DAC625] xE 2=D@ >:89E :?4=F56 ?6H @G6CD:89E @7 D>2==6C 7665=@E @A6C2E:@?D]k^Am

kAm“%96J’C6 E2<:?8 E9:D D6C:@FD=J[” D2:5 s2?: #6A=@8=6[ 2? 2EE@C?6J 7@C u@@5 U2>Aj (2E6C (2E49[ H9:49 ;@:?65 E96 t!p A6E:E:@?D 4@?46C?:?8 x@H2[ |:??6D@E2 2?5 @E96C DE2E6D] “%96J 2C6 862C:?8 FA E@ 5@ 2 C68F=2E@CJ @G6C92F= 7@C E96 7665=@E C68F=2E:@?D[ 2?5 E92E’D H92E H6 H@F=5 =:<6 E@ D66 92AA6? :? x@H2]”k^Am

People are also reading…

Prevention important with spread of alpha-gal syndrome
Young Otoe County cattleman goes from showing to selling show cattle
A year of growth – for me and the ranch
Family-run flour mill adds value from field to table
South Dakota's three largest dairy processors are growing, and so are their plans
Unique challenge chews at family
Father-daughter duo turns milkweed into multi-faceted enterprise
Cattle grazing can be invasive grass management tool
Centuries of American agriculture
Butler County 4-H mentor puts heart into serving
Washington Is finally paying attention. But is that enough?
Drones, robots, AI may hold the future to weed control strategies
Record canola crop a sign of growing demand

kAm|:??6D@E2 925 2=C625J[ :? C646?E J62CD[ D@F89E E@ AC@E64E 8C@F?5H2E6C :? D6?D:E:G6 2C62D E92E C2?86 36J@?5 :ED D@FE962DE C68:@?] |:??6D@E2 7@C3:5D E96 72== 2AA=:42E:@? @7 ?:EC@86? 76CE:=:K6C H96C6 E96C6 2C6 4@2CD6 E6IEFC65 D@:=D[ D92==@H 365C@4< @C <2CDE 86@=@8J[ H9:49 :D 2 762EFC6 @7 ?@CE962DE x@H2]k^Am

Iowa groundwater 3.jpg — An animal confinement in northwest Iowa.
Iowa Capital Dispatch photo by Jared Strong

kAm%9@D6 72== 2AA=:42E:@?D :?4C62D6 E96 A@E6?E:2= 7@C 8C@F?5H2E6C A@==FE:@? 3642FD6 E96 76CE:=:K6C :D :? D@:= 7@C =@?86C A6C:@5D @7 E:>6 H96? 4C@AD 2C6?’E 8C@H:?8]k^Am

kAm|:??6D@E2 2=D@ 42? C6BF:C6 72C>6CD E@ E2<6 DE6AD E@ 4FC3 8C@F?5H2E6C 4@?E2>:?2E:@? :? 46CE2:? 2C62D]k^Am

kAmx@H2’D 2AAC@249 E@ 28C:4F=EFC2= C68F=2E:@?D 92D E6?565 E@H2C5 =@@D6?:?8 E96> H9:=6 6?4@FC28:?8 72C>6CD E@ G@=F?E2C:=J C65F46 E96:C A@==FE:@?]k^Am

kAmp 3:== E92E C646:G65 DF34@>>:EE66 DFAA@CE :? E96 x@H2 $6?2E6 E9:D J62C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:@H242A:E2=5:DA2E49]4@>^a_ac^_a^`a^3:==\H@F=5\2==@H\7665=@ED\E@\@A6C2E6\H:E9\F?2AAC@G65\>2?FC6\A=2?D^QmH@F=5 92G6 2==@H65k^2m 7665=@ED E@ 5:DA@D6 @7 >2?FC6 AC:@C E@ DE2E6 2AAC@G2=[ 6G6? :7 DE2E6 C68F=2E@CD C6;64E65 E96:C 5:DA@D2= A=2?D[ A6?5:?8 2? 2AA62= @7 E96 C6;64E:@?D]k^Am

kAmp?@E96C 3:== k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:@H242A:E2=5:DA2E49]4@>^a_ac^_`^ad^=68:D=2E:@?\D66<D\E@\4FCE2:=\2?@?J>@FD\6?G:C@?>6?E2=\4@>A=2:?ED^QmH@F=5 92G6 4FCE2:=65k^2m 2?@?J>@FD 4@>A=2:?ED E@ E96 x@H2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 }2EFC2= #6D@FC46D 23@FE >2?FC6 G:@=2E:@?D] xE 2=D@ 72:=65 E@ 25G2?46]k^Am

kAmp?5 E96 s}# C646?E=J C6G6CD65 4@FCD6 @? 2 AC@A@D65 CF=6 492?86 E92E H@F=5 92G6 C6BF:C65 36EE6C 32CC:6CD 36EH66? >2?FC6 32D:?D 2?5 365C@4< :? <2CDE =2?5D42A6D] {2DE H66< E96 s}#’D t?G:C@?>6?E2= !C@E64E:@? r@>>:DD:@? 2AAC@G65 7665=@E CF=6D E92E 5:5 ?@E :?4=F56 E96 AC@G:D:@?[ 2?5 E96 x@H2 t?G:C@?>6?E2= r@F?4:= 2??@F?465 E96 t!p A6E:E:@? D9@CE=J E96C627E6C]k^Am

k9cm(92E E96 A6E:E:@? D66<Dk^9cm

kAm%96 A6E:E:@? 4@?46C?:?8 ?@CE962DE x@H2 2D<D E96 t!p E@ FD6 :ED 6>6C86?4J 2FE9@C:EJ 8C2?E65 3J E96 $276 sC:?<:?8 (2E6C p4E “E@ FC86?E=J 255C6DD E96 :>>:?6?E 2?5 DF3DE2?E:2= 6?52?86C>6?E E@ AF3=:4 962=E9 H:E9:? E96 <2CDE C68:@? @7 x@H2 42FD65 3J @?8@:?8 2?5 :?4C62D:?8 ?:EC2E6 4@?E2>:?2E:@?]”k^Am

kAmxE 2==686D E92E x@H2’D 2EE6>AED :? C646?E 564256D E@ C65F46 72C> A@==FE:@? 92G6 72:=65]k^Am

kAm%96 DE2E6 92D FD65 :ED }FEC:6?E #65F4E:@? $EC2E68J E@ 6?4@FC286 G@=F?E2CJ 24E:@?D 3J 72C>6CD E@ AC6G6?E E96:C 76CE:=:K6CD 7C@> =6649:?8 :?E@ E96 DE2E6’D H2E6CH2JD] $EC62> >@?:E@C:?8 92D J6E E@ D9@H D:8?:7:42?E AC@8C6DD :? C65F4:?8 ?:EC2E6 2?5 A9@DA9@CFD 4@?E2>:?2E:@? D:?46 E96 DEC2E68J’D :?46AE:@? :? a_`c]k^Am

kAm“xE 92D 366? 2? 23JD>2= 72:=FC6[” D2:5 |:4926= $49>:5E[ 2? 2EE@C?6J 7@C E96 x@H2 t?G:C@?>6?E2= r@F?4:=] “%96 724E E92E |:??6D@E2 :D 92G:?8 E@ 5@ >@C6 — 6G6? E9@F89 :E 2=C625J 92D >@C6 C68F=2E:@?[ >@C6 @G6CD:89E @7 E96D6 D@FC46D — >62?D E92E x@H2 H:== 92G6 E@ E2<6 6G6? 3:886C DE6AD E@ 255C6DD E96 A@==FE:@? AC@3=6>D 96C6]”k^Am

Iowa groundwater 4.jpg — The North Raccoon River routinely has elevated levels of nitrate contamination.
Iowa Capital Dispatch photo by Jared Strong

kAm%96 2?DH6Ci DE2E6\>2?52E65 C6DEC:4E:@?D @? E96 2>@F?E @7 76CE:=:K6C E92? 42? 36 2AA=:65 E@ 4C@A 7:6=5D[ H:E9 DA64:2= CF=6D 7@C <2CDE =2?5D42A6[ D2:5 s2G:5 rH:6CE?J[ 5:C64E@C @7 E96 r6?E6C 7@C w62=E9 t7764ED @7 t?G:C@?>6?E2= r@?E2>:?2E:@? 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 x@H2]k^Am

kAm“xE 42?’E 36 G@=F?E2CJ] xE 42?’E 36 DF886DE65[” 96 D2:5] “(92E H:== 86E FD :>AC@G6>6?E — 2?5 x <?@H A6@A=6 5@?’E =:<6 E@ E2=< 23@FE :E — 3FE :E’D C68F=2E:@?D] p?5 C68F=2E:@?D H@C<]”k^Am

kAmxE’D F?4=62C H96? E96 t!p >:89E 5:C64E x@H2 E@ 255C6DD E96 5C:?<:?8 H2E6C 4@?E2>:?2E:@?]k^Am

Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com. Follow Iowa Capital Dispatch on Facebook and Twitter.