On Monday, the EPA hosted its first virtual regional roundtable on the Waters of the United States rule. Iowa State University Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Larry Weber told the EPA there are high levels of nitrates leaving Iowa in water due to the industrialization of agriculture and the expansion of livestock production. “I would argue that we lose ground to the intensification of agriculture each and every day. We have an unregulated industry in agriculture that needs policy and regulations to bring it in line with other societal needs for the entire agricultural Midwest. We need balance between our agricultural, economic, water, natural and human resources.” Francis Thicke, an organic dairy farmer from Iowa, also told the EPA more regulations are needed. This virtual roundtable is the first of ten being held this summer. The next roundtable discussion will also be Midwest-based, held later this month.
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