AUDIO: Ron Birkenholz, Iowa Pork Producers Association communications director
An Iowa organization calls upon state lawmakers to address water quality issues. The organization?s suggestion to lawmakers – suspend the construction and expansion of livestock confinements until the number of impaired waterways shrink.
The Iowa Alliance for Responsible Agriculture (IARA), with ties to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), is asking lawmakers to support 15 bills tightening oversight of livestock confinements. The bills, sponsored by Senator David Johnson (I-IA), seek a moratorium of concentrated animal feed operations (CAFOs) until Iowa?s list of impaired waterways shrinks from 750 to less than 100 and rules dictating where confinements can be located are strengthened.
Ron Birkenholz is communications director for the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA). Birkenholz suggest a moratorium would do more harm than good.
?Imposing a moratorium on the industry would greatly stifle rural Iowa economic activity and limit opportunities for the next generation on the farm,? Birkenholz said. ?Iowa?s pork industry is significant and provides more than $8 billion in labor income annually. One in nearly 12 working Iowans have a job in or related to the production of hogs.?
Birkenholz says Iowa?s pork industry is heavily regulated, making note of the state?s zero discharge law for confinements. Birkenholz adds Iowa pig farmers remain dedicated to protecting the state?s natural resources.
?Responsible, Iowa pig farmers are working hard every day to be a part of the water quality solution and they?re committed to protecting air, land, water and resources,? Birkenholz said. ?They focus on environmentally sustainable practices, it?s a part of their job. They have to leave it better than they found it, and that?s what they?re striving to do – protect our resources to continue to successfully farm.?
