Group says Iowa 2nd nationally in ‘factory farms’

A group critical of large animal feeding operations issued a report criticizing the rapid growth of ‘factory farms' in Iowa from 2002 through 2007.

Food and Water Watch's ‘Factory Farm Map' says the number of livestock in Iowa increased from 2.2 million in 2002 to 3.3 million in 2002. Iowa ranks second only to Texas in the number of such operations, the group said.

As of 2007, the map showed Iowa with 17.9 million hogs, 1.2 million beef cattle, 64,500 dairy cattle, 52.4 million laying hens, and 1 million broiler chickens. It said the total livestock in Iowa generates as much untreated manure as the sewage equivalent from 471 million peoople.

The Iowa counties most densely populated with livestock were Sioux County (330,567) Lyon County, 128,047 and Plymouth County (120,707).

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement board President Vern Tigges of Carroll said the map confirms that factory farming is not environmentally sustainable and is a major contributor to the state's deteriorating water quality.

“Iowa Governor-elect Terry Branstad should crack down on factory farm polluters and use his bully pulpit to push for local control, tougher permitting standards and strong Clean Water Act rules,” said Tigges, a family farmer.

The number of hogs in Iowa is actually higher, according to the Iowa Pork Producers Association' Its web site says Iowa had 8,300 hog operations and 19 million pigs being raised at any given time. About 30 million hogs are produced in Iowa each year, the web site said, citing United States Department of Agriculture statistics from 2008.

Iowa Pork Producers Association spokesman Ron Birkenholz had not seen the report, but said after learning its source that the association would have no comment. The Iowa Farm Bureau, which was holding its annual meeting on Thursday, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The association reports that pork production contributes $12 billion to Iowa's economy annually, including about $2 billion in payroll income.