Iowa’s agriculture industry is critical to the economy of our state. It employs one in five Iowans, it allows Iowa to export its goods worldwide, and agriculture is central to our state’s culture and heritage. Iowa has been able to lead the nation in corn, soybean, pork, and egg production by pioneering farming practices and learning from one another for generations.

Farmers in our state are facing a lot of uncertainty right now. The EPA issued their final Waters of the U.S. rule, which has left many producers speculating just how much new regulatory authority the EPA will be able to claim. Also, the Des Moines Water Works has filed suit against the drainage districts of three agricultural based counties upstream, claiming farmers are not doing enough to reduce nitrate runoff.

The potential consequences of these decisions are significant. Farmers in my district are very serious about being good stewards of the land. I have seen many farmers in my district taking it upon themselves to install proven practices like terraces, saturated buffers, and wetlands. Nitrogen management practices like cover crops are also gaining momentum. On my own land this past fall I have planted a permanent 30 foot grass buffer along a creek for over half mile in order to catch more silt and trap nutrients before they enter the creek.

More work can certainly be done, but to say no progress is being made on soil and water quality efforts is false. Litigation will not promote practices that produce measurable improvements to our water quality. I also applaud my fellow members of the State Legislature for approving $9.6 million for this upcoming year to support the Iowa Water Quality Initiative that Gov. Branstad will now review.

The city of Cedar Rapids is investing in a $4.3 million collaborative project directed toward water quality efforts in the Cedar River watershed. This private-public partnership will help provide producers upstream with resources to implement the right nutrient management practices that will actually improve soil and water quality. These type of cooperative efforts are in the best interest of all Iowans, lawsuits are not. Finger pointing, litigation, and expansive new regulations with unknown outcomes only serve to impede serious progress.