And given use of corn stover, higher rates of soil erosion (a problem
all by itself) and nutrient loss (requiring more anhydrous), with
resulting sediment and nitrogen in the waterways.
Leland Searles
Air Quality Program Director
Iowa Environmental Council
521 E. Locust St., Suite 220
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
515-244-1194 ext. 204
www.iaenvironment.org
www.facebook.com/Iowa.Environmental.Council
<http://www.facebook.com/Iowa.Environmental.Council>
About the Iowa Environmental Council:
The Iowa Environmental Council actively works in public policy to
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From: Iowa Discussion, Alerts and Announcements
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Pam Mackey-Taylor
Sent: Friday, August 05, 2011 11:26 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Water quality--nitrates
I was in the coop elevator in Nevada yesterday. As I was waiting, there
was a farmer who was whiling away the time who wanted to talk about the
new cellulosic ethanol plant that will be built. As background the
elevator sits next door to the corn-ethanol plant in Nevada. The DuPont
cellulosic plant will also be built next door to the elevator. The
farmer was saying that the cellulosic plant is expected to bring in
stover from a 50-mile radius of Nevada. He was saying that without the
stover on the ground, that there are only 2 options -- manure and more
anhydrous. Neither one of those sound like good options. If you draw a
50 mile radius, that includes the watershed for the drinking water
sources for Des Moines. Apparently there has been a lot in the news in
central Iowa about this cellulosic ethanol plant. I wonder how much
thought there has been about water quality changes that are expected as
a result of the plant.
pam
-----Original Message-----
From: Wally Taylor <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Fri, Aug 5, 2011 9:55 am
Subject: Re: Water quality--nitrates
And probably many people who would like to get into or remain in farming
who are being forced off the land because they cannot compete with the
big guys. There are no farmers anymore, only producers.
Wally Taylor
PS--Regarding the objection that 1940s-era farming was much more
labor-intensive than today, and therefore not a realistic option
anymore, consider that we have a serious labor surplus now, with
unemployment probably understated at the official figure of 9.1 percent.
-----Original Message-----
From: Thomas Mathews <[log in to unmask]>
To: IOWA-TOPICS <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Fri, Aug 5, 2011 6:50 am
Subject: Water quality--nitrates
Here's a central-Iowa water quality question for everyone:
If, in the watersheds that Des Moines gets its drinking water
from--which are mainly the Raccoon River, but also, at certain times,
the Des Moines River--we went back to farming methods that were in use
prior to about 1940, which means no applications of anhydrous ammonia,
would the Des Moines Waterworks need to continue using the major nitrate
removal plant which they built a few years ago, in order to make our
water safe to drink? (I remember reading that our nitrate removal
facility is the largest of its kind in the world.)
Thanks for any comments on this!
Tom
Des Moines
PS--Regarding the objection that 1940s-era farming was much more
labor-intensive than today, and therefore not a realistic option
anymore, consider that we have a serious labor surplus now, with
unemployment probably understated at the official figure of 9.1 percent.
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