Water alliance is a welcome step

Iowa's leaders have opted for a voluntary approach to encouraging the state's farmers to take steps to reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorous that runs from their operations into the state's waterways. The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy approved last year is the latest proof that 'voluntary” has won the political debate over 'mandatory” when it comes to farms and water quality.

Nutrient reduction is joined at the hip with runoff reduction, and therefore, flood mitigation. Our experience with water here in Cedar Rapids colors our view of these issues. We're concerned that voluntary efforts won't be enough.

But we understand voluntary is reality. And the goal of these voluntary standards is ambitious, a reduction of nitrogen and phosphorous loads flowing into waterways and out the state by 45 percent. So we were pleased with the recent announcement that three prominent commodities groups have formed an alliance to help farmers adopt nutrient and runoff reduction practices.

The Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance is being formed by the Iowa Corn Growers Association, the Iowa Soybean Association and the Iowa Pork Producers Association. its goal is to educate farmers on water quality strategies and encourage them to participate. Kirk Leeds, who leads the alliance board of directors, hit the right notes in a news conference announcing the effort.

'A simplistic regulatory scheme will not improve water quality nor will another marketing campaign touting the importance of farming,” Leeds said. 'Serious matters demand a serious approach and farmers are committed to achieving results.”

The good news is these groups have serious clout in the agricultural community and at the Statehouse. Although a water quality message delivered by environmentalists may not be well-received by producers, a sales pitch from these ag groups may fare better.

It's clearly in farmers' best interest to listen. If voluntary efforts fail to curtail the fertilizer reaching waterways and the polluted 'dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico, mandatory measures are next. Farmers also have a keen interest in preserving the state's rich soil, the valuable natural resource they depend upon. Many efforts to stop fertilizer runoff also protect soils from erosion.

We're hopeful the alliance can make progress on a very serious problem. We'll be watching closely from the banks of the Cedar River.

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