Mississippi River and Farms
Farms' Effect in Detrimental and Beneficial Ways
Farm Animals
Beneficial
The cows and pigs eat,
which is giving us good food.
Detrimental
The cows and pigs are putting
manure on the farm which is causing
pollution in the Mississippi River.
Fertilizer
Beneficial
Farmers put fertilizer on crops
to help them grow.
Detrimental
The fertilizer runoff goes into the
river which causes pollution
which increases the size of the Dead Zone in
the Gulf Of Mexico.
Two Sides To The Story
Beneficial
The EPA is trying to make farmers help.
Detrimental
The farmers are not listening and the runoff is increasing the size of the Dead Zone. The Dead Zone is the part of the Gulf of Mexico where everything is dead. It is the size of New Jersey.
EPA Fines Gov. Branstad’s Brother
The farm had about 2,500 cattle in barns and outside pens. They had a permit to get rid of the manure, but they did not keep records and they didn't make sure it was safe. The EPA wants the farm to pay $5,100 for a civil penalty and pay $26,000 to install a wetland area near the farm.Wetlands will benefit the environment by slowing down the manure from going into the river and will benefit Iowa’s water quality.
In 2011 State environmental officials had a complaint about 900,000 gallons of manure was on Branstad's field. Monroe Branstad had to pay $10,000 for discharging manure into tributaries.
EPA Clean Water Act
Environmental Protection Agency and the deal over Clean Water Act
Officials of Iowa are saying they will inspect more livestock farms and enforce penalties when manure travels into the river. A federal agreement was signed by the EPA and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources on Wednesday, September 11, 2013. The agreement said they would inspect more of large livestock farms with farms more than 1,000 cows and 2,500 hogs. That would be 3,200 farms. "This work plan is a reflection of Iowans working together on a commonsense solution that will encourage best practices,” said DNR Director Chuck Gipp.
Farmers Opinion
What Farmers Have To Say:
“Farmers are tried of being blamed” Perry
Beeman said. What he's trying to say is that farms are not the only reason the Mississippi is polluted.
Ways To Help
Ways To Help
- Spread the manure on your field as fertilizer.
- Ship it to farmers that need it.
- Build wetlands to go between the farm and the rivers.
Bibliography
"EPA Fines Branstad's Brother." THonline. The Associated Press, 20 Sept. 2013. Web. 26 Sept. 2013.
"Iowa, EPA reach deal over Clean Water Act." THonline. The Associated Press, 12, Sept. 2013. Web. 25 Sept. 2013.
Johnson, Robin. The Mississippi: America's Mighty River. New York: Crabtree Pub., 2010. Print.