New report reveals true costs of CAFOs in Iowa

[rurallib]

https://www.iaenvironment.org/newsroom/water-and-land-news/new-report-reveals-true-costs-of-cafos-in-iowa?#

Des Moines, IA. – November 14, 2023 – Iowans are shelling out hundreds of millions of dollars to treat their drinking water and pay for treatment of life-threatening health care issues caused by nitrate pollution from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in the state, according to a new report published today by the Iowa Environmental Council (IEC).

The report, The Costs of CAFOs: Impacts on Your Wallet and Your Health, reviews data as part of a cost-benefit analysis published for the first time by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the state agency that manages CAFO compliance in Iowa. The DNR compiled the cost-benefit analysis as part of the agency’s rule review mandated by Governor Kim Reynolds in January 2023.

“It’s eye-opening to see what CAFOs are really costing Iowans, beyond just operator costs or what the oversight costs the DNR. Every Iowan is paying in some way for these operations – some more than others. Even if you don’t have a CAFO in your community, you’re probably paying higher water bills as utilities struggle to reduce nitrate in your drinking water. You’re paying healthcare costs as well, whether it’s direct medical bills or increasing healthcare premiums as Iowa’s cancer rate increases,” said Alicia Vasto, IEC Water Program Director.

The report looked at data and reports on drinking water costs, finding that if nitrogen pollution rates do not change, Iowans will spend up to $333 million dollars on nitrogen removal in drinking water systems the next five years. That spending weighs more heavily on rural Iowans and those in smaller communities, where individuals pay more per person for upgraded treatment systems or access to new water sources to meet the current nitrate standard of 10 mg/l in drinking water.

(note: it goes on to analyze Iowa's extremely high cancer rate)

[keithbvadu2]

1. Private profit, public costs.

[CrispyQ]

2. I used to drive by a very small-time CAFO

& you rolled your windows up well in advance & kept them up for awhile. So glad I gave up meat.

[rurallib]

3. I have them all around me - probably at least a dozen in all directions

within a couple miles of my house.

The stink has mostly gone because that was intolerable, but all the other problems remain and are worse because of the proliferation of these operations.

Ergo we don't eat meat either.

[CrispyQ]

4. I grew up on a farm that raised cattle.

It was a sad day when the trucks came to take them away knowing what their fate was especially the ones who had been born on the farm, that we sort of knew. I'm always surprised when people express disgust at meat grown in a petri dish & I wonder if they're aware of the ecological impact of their diet.

Jim Hightower writes a lot about how industry makes big promises to come into an area & then it's never as good as they say & then the community is stuck with them. If all they do is disrupt the economy & then leave is bad enough but when they mess up the environment that's a whole other level of criminality & evil.

[rurallib]

5. And the conditions for these living sentient beings is so awful.

[progressoid]

6. What are the chances the GOP led state government will do something about it...

Yeah, I know. Nill.

Hell, we're sitting on 1.8 billion dollar surplus. At the very least, they could give a little relief to their republican citizens in small towns.