Dubuque Telegraph Herald, IA
11-18-07
Producers′ protective practices progressing
Emily Klein, TH Staff Writer
Farmers have long been thought of as the great stewards of the Earth, nurturing
and protecting the environment.
Of course, some would argue that fertilizers and other chemicals used to assist
the growing of crops might be doing more damage than good, but a new study
shows that many producers have improved their practices to protect nearby
waterways.
Iowa State University researchers recently revealed that they found Iowa
farmers have made progress in removing nitrogen, nitrates and phosphorus in
the state's 13 watersheds. They also discovered that reaching the Environmental
Protection Agency's aquatic life standards is unattainable with current practices
at current funding levels.
The study, which was conducted by researchers at the university's Center for
Agricultural and Rural Development, looked into the cumulative costs and
environmental benefits of seven major conservation practices used on Iowa
farms. It specifically examined the effectiveness of conservation practices,
including terraces and grassy waterways, contour farming and no-till farming.
Researchers concluded that conservation practices have reduced total nitrogen
by up to 38 percent, nitrates by up to 28 percent and phosphorus by up to 58
percent in the state's 13 watersheds. These are all minerals that naturally exist in
Iowa's water and soil. And while they are necessary, they can be problematic
when they leach into waterways in excess, especially since they occur in manure
used to fertilize many fields. When there is an overabundance of these minerals
in bodies of water, it can cause algae blooms, which affect oxygen.
"We found out that farmers are making a difference in improving Iowa's water,"
said the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation's environmental policy adviser, Rick
Robinson, in a release about the study. "It also showed achieving the EPA's
aquatic life standards is unattainable with current practices at current funding
levels."
The study did show the cost of what it found to be the nearest achievable goal.
This new goal, to reduce phosphorus by 40 percent and nitrates by 25 percent,
would cost an estimated $613 million per year for Iowans.
"Our results indicate that the most cost-effective measures to improve water
quality are different across different watersheds and that targeting different
pollutants will mean different land-use options," said Catherine Kling, lead
researcher in the study. "One message for stakeholders is that they must have a
good knowledge of their watersheds before adopting policies to bring about
change in land use."