The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (Strategy) was released on November 19, 2012. The Agribusiness Association of Iowa (AAI) congratulates this tremendous effort by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Iowa State University. AAI supports this draft strategy and has filed comments reflecting our support. AAI encourages all Iowans, policy makers, farms, businesses and academia to embrace the draft and its implementation and submit comments of support.
This draft strategy, for the first time, encompasses both point source and non-point source targeted reductions of both Nitrogen and Phosphorus. AAI is impressed that the urban and rural share common goals, despite differences in how the reductions are reached. While the strategy focuses on 130 point source permits, the non-point sources are estimated to be around 90,000 farms.
The Strategy can become the road map for a coordinated effort from non-point sources and thus, for the first time, encourage similar goals and program objectives. This is critical to the success of the Strategy. Farms, rural agribusinesses and the organizations that represent them stand ready to implement the Strategy; we simply need to begin as soon as practical.
The deadline to submit comments is Friday, January 4, 2013. There are two methods to submit comments.
Electronic: Please use the form at http://www.nutrientstrategy.iastate.edu/comments to submit your comments.
Mail: Comments may be mailed to: Nutrient Reduction Strategy, ANR Program Services, 2101 Agronomy Hall, Ames, Iowa 50011-1010.