For immediate release: September
20, 2006
For more information contact: Iowa Citizens
for Community Improvement
at 515-282-0484, iowacci@iowacci.org , http://www.iowacci.org
Des Moines – CCI
members were pleased yesterday by the Environmental Protection Commission’s
(EPC) unanimous vote to begin the rule making process to ban the
spreading of manure on land being planted with soybeans. Several
Iowa CCI members and other concerned citizens voiced their support
of such action during the public comment period.
“This common sense move would help
protect Iowa’s water from an unnecessary threat. Anyone who
is in favor of clean water and sensible farming should be in favor
of this rule,” said CCI member Rosie Partridge of Sac County.
“We need sensible practices to clean up Iowa’s endangered
waters.”
The commission considered scientific evidence
that reveals that applying manure to land going to soybeans leaves
too much nitrogen in the soil, often leading to nitrate pollution
of surrounding water sources. The commission did suggest an exception
for wet years when farmers are forced to change their crop after
June 1 from corn to soybeans. The rule will be drafted and opened
to public comment before taking effect.
“I’m an earth hugger,”
said Jack Troeger, a CCI member from Ames who spoke before the commission
on Tuesday. “I’m glad to see that the EPC decided to
move forward with this step to protect the environment they are
trusted to preserve.”
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
is a 31 year old organization with thousands of members across Iowa
from all walks of life who talk, act and get things done on issues
affecting them the most. For more information visit www.iowacci.org.
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