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Other states look to Iowa on water quality issues
Tom Oswald answers a question from the delegate body at the American Soybean Association policy session in Phoenix. (Photo courtesy ISA)
Water quality issues were a big topic of discussion last week at Commodity Classic in Phoenix.
Tom Oswald, president of the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA), says other states are turning to Iowa’s leadership in addressing water quality.
“A lot of people are looking to the things we’ve done, seeing how they can incorporate those,” Oswald says. “Also, the use of data and how data is important in making decisions as opposed to emotion—those are the types of conversations being had.”
Oswald says farmers have no other choice but to show positive results in reducing nutrient runoff. Otherwise, he says, environmental groups and other entities will demand mandatory actions.
“If we farmers don’t take a proactive approach, voluntarily work to do what we can to improve what comes off our farms, reduce our environmental footprint—we will be regulated. There’s just no question in my mind,” Oswald says. “There are a lot of people looking at us and if we don’t make a sincere and strong effort at improving the environmental footprint, they’re just waiting to regulate us.”
Which is why ISA is intensifying its efforts to improve water quality, Oswald says.
“(There’s) a lot of awareness on water quality through the Iowa soybean organization—from the perspective I see—and we’re pretty proud of that.”
Dennis Morrice of KLEM, Le Mars, Iowa contributed to this story.
Let’s get something straight. A lot of people are looking AT Iowa onthe subject of water quality. No one is looking TO Iowa on the subject of water quality. Big difference.