I belong to the Iowa Barn Foundation, attempting to hold on to a bit of what was rural agriculture in a time when small farmers populated Iowa, It was at a time attempting to provide food and fodder for animals and humans without intentionally putrifying the land, atmosphere and water table. A time when Saturday night was a big deal in every town equipted with a creamery, and there were thousands! where the towns offered services of ambulance/fire departments and the state lowered the property taxes to help keep this farm and city bond. The end result was decent school systems and agreeable communities that worked together for the good of all. Today we have nothing but contentious people fighting over who has more right to clean air and water based primarily on money that goes to people who don't live here! A CO2 pipeline that will make stockholders wealthy on subcities paid by our taxes! Corporate farming operations that will produce cheap pork,beef, chicken, eggs and turkeys for the packers who will inflate the the consumer prices and cut the producers revenues! How long will this last? How long will we put up with this? And lastly, why in the hell should we!
not to mention continue abusing immigrant workers in those packing plants - cheap, often undocumented labor force, forced to work in appalling conditions, and forced to work during the pandemic in crowded conditions with no safety measures in place which caused them and their families to get sick and die. Citizens United must be reversed and sanity restored to our political discourse. We "little people" want the same things in life no matter our political party.
Yes. The most monumental problem we Iowans have is the failure of much of Iowa Democratic party leadership to boldly and capably take on Big Ag interests and their accomplices, i.e. Farm Bureau.
For me it starts with Citizens United, the Supreme Court decision that allows our politicians to be bought by the big money folks. Big budget attack ads obscure the public's view of our political leaders. So, King Corn, rules. Even land not suitable for corn is plowed up now since tax payers pay for low prices and flooded fields. The last attempt by the Iowa delegation to beat up on Tom Vilsack for not sending even more money to our farmers got some push back. Good. I wish someone would lay out all the tax breaks and subsidies Iowa farmers get. In a break even year one has to ask where is all the tax payer money ending up. Koch, WH and the Barons in Frerick's book take a bunch of it. And, our voters are clueless. However, Chris, is it possible that we have hit bottom?
I always felt massive campaign finance reform is what's needed to get a legislative body to do the will of The People. Good luck getting legislators voting for that, though.
John McCain and Senator Amy Klobuchar wanted to work across the aisle for campaign finance reform. It went nowhere. Citizens United should be called Corporations United.
You really hit the nail on the head, this time! I saw this coming a long time ago. It is a stagnant pool of filth that has spread all over our country. Are we all sheep that we have to take this? How bad does it have to get before we say enough is enough and tear the walls down?
Strong writing. Any politician that can't handle being told these points will surely crumble when the time comes for them to actually represent "the people." They'll probably spout off about how much they love clean water while drinking bottled water.
For a chuckle, check out where Walmart's 'spring' water comes from, or any of those fancy waters. Not too long ago, Walmart's spring water was bottled at the municipal 'springs' of Toledo, Ohio. I haven't checked recently. That was a few years ago.
Is anyone taking on the UI Hawkeye athletic department about its ANF campaign that is complicit in promoting the Iowa Farm Bureau as one and the same as Iowa's rural/ag economic sector?
In Kalona this afternoon, the temperature is 81 degrees. Inside my small house, however, the temperature is 68. I cannot open the windows, because it is autumn, and fields of corn and beans have been harvested. Despite ISU's recommendations against this practice, hog manure is now being spread across those harvested fields. The odor in my small town in a county that has more CAFOs than any other county in state is overwhelming. Washington County produces hog manure as fast as the Riverside Casino separates gamblers from their money. The county's current State House Representative and her husband own several CAFOs. She is the fox guarding the henhouse, although neither political party is eager to address this issue. The odor, the degradation of the land is disgusting. The situation utterly depressing. Life in Iowa, particularly rural Iowa is becoming untenable, but I guess that is what Big Ag desires.
Ah, the delightful aroma of injected manure from October until New Years. Putrid. Do they spread it in your area instead of injecting? Injecting reeks as well.
Dian. Little follow up. I heard of producers adding nitrogen stabilizers during early application early at a substantial cost. But, ya can't help it: Shit stinks!!
Thank u very much. I realize a lot of hog manure is going on right now. One thing that is known the soil is severely drier than when these recommendations were made. With that, the manure has is attached to the super dry soil and not moved down.
Politicians do not care what we say about water quality but farmers do. They are embarrassed by damage they cause to the environment but they tell me they are only following the rules they are given. The blame belongs to those that apply more fertilizer than the plants need. The blame belongs to those that construct the CAFO backed up to the nearest ravine. The blame belongs to those that tear out retention dams without regards for out lakes and streams. Expose the polluters and maybe they will seek political relief from this embarrassment.
US agriculture parallels my profession, the medical industrial complex. In healthcare, as in ag, we adhere to the Einstein principle...doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results. There is no good end to these practices. The Dust Bowl of the 30s was manmade. The next agricultural apocalypse will be as well.
your article is superb and your book is amazing(or can i say amaizing??), anyway, my first experience with grits was in the basement cafeteria at palmer college in davenport...we had many students who hailed from south of the mason/dixon line...nice nudge at the old 2 holer also, i know you know...
I grow bloody butcher a lot of times. Also a blue dent corn which is probably superior. I make corn meal flour and corn meal for bread. Happy gardening!!!
I belong to the Iowa Barn Foundation, attempting to hold on to a bit of what was rural agriculture in a time when small farmers populated Iowa, It was at a time attempting to provide food and fodder for animals and humans without intentionally putrifying the land, atmosphere and water table. A time when Saturday night was a big deal in every town equipted with a creamery, and there were thousands! where the towns offered services of ambulance/fire departments and the state lowered the property taxes to help keep this farm and city bond. The end result was decent school systems and agreeable communities that worked together for the good of all. Today we have nothing but contentious people fighting over who has more right to clean air and water based primarily on money that goes to people who don't live here! A CO2 pipeline that will make stockholders wealthy on subcities paid by our taxes! Corporate farming operations that will produce cheap pork,beef, chicken, eggs and turkeys for the packers who will inflate the the consumer prices and cut the producers revenues! How long will this last? How long will we put up with this? And lastly, why in the hell should we!
not to mention continue abusing immigrant workers in those packing plants - cheap, often undocumented labor force, forced to work in appalling conditions, and forced to work during the pandemic in crowded conditions with no safety measures in place which caused them and their families to get sick and die. Citizens United must be reversed and sanity restored to our political discourse. We "little people" want the same things in life no matter our political party.
Add in changing state law so immigrant teens can work excessive hours on school nights. The intent is clear, profit over humanity and equity.
ALL teens, NOT just immigrants, can work up to certain hours on school nights! Also shouldn't we give some credit to parental discretion.
Yes. The most monumental problem we Iowans have is the failure of much of Iowa Democratic party leadership to boldly and capably take on Big Ag interests and their accomplices, i.e. Farm Bureau.
For me it starts with Citizens United, the Supreme Court decision that allows our politicians to be bought by the big money folks. Big budget attack ads obscure the public's view of our political leaders. So, King Corn, rules. Even land not suitable for corn is plowed up now since tax payers pay for low prices and flooded fields. The last attempt by the Iowa delegation to beat up on Tom Vilsack for not sending even more money to our farmers got some push back. Good. I wish someone would lay out all the tax breaks and subsidies Iowa farmers get. In a break even year one has to ask where is all the tax payer money ending up. Koch, WH and the Barons in Frerick's book take a bunch of it. And, our voters are clueless. However, Chris, is it possible that we have hit bottom?
I always felt massive campaign finance reform is what's needed to get a legislative body to do the will of The People. Good luck getting legislators voting for that, though.
John McCain and Senator Amy Klobuchar wanted to work across the aisle for campaign finance reform. It went nowhere. Citizens United should be called Corporations United.
I agree, Mike. When the corrupt Supremes decided money was free speech and corporations were people, the die was cast.
You really hit the nail on the head, this time! I saw this coming a long time ago. It is a stagnant pool of filth that has spread all over our country. Are we all sheep that we have to take this? How bad does it have to get before we say enough is enough and tear the walls down?
Thank you for your continuing fight to restore soil, water, and ultimately, our, health
Strong writing. Any politician that can't handle being told these points will surely crumble when the time comes for them to actually represent "the people." They'll probably spout off about how much they love clean water while drinking bottled water.
For a chuckle, check out where Walmart's 'spring' water comes from, or any of those fancy waters. Not too long ago, Walmart's spring water was bottled at the municipal 'springs' of Toledo, Ohio. I haven't checked recently. That was a few years ago.
Is anyone taking on the UI Hawkeye athletic department about its ANF campaign that is complicit in promoting the Iowa Farm Bureau as one and the same as Iowa's rural/ag economic sector?
There have been some efforts on this
How can we UI alumni and/or contributors to UI foundation help?
Thanks for the truth injection, Chris. For things to be as screwed up as they are in Iowa, Congress MUST be practicing bipartisanship.
The best dirt for growing crops in America is being horribly mismanaged.
In Kalona this afternoon, the temperature is 81 degrees. Inside my small house, however, the temperature is 68. I cannot open the windows, because it is autumn, and fields of corn and beans have been harvested. Despite ISU's recommendations against this practice, hog manure is now being spread across those harvested fields. The odor in my small town in a county that has more CAFOs than any other county in state is overwhelming. Washington County produces hog manure as fast as the Riverside Casino separates gamblers from their money. The county's current State House Representative and her husband own several CAFOs. She is the fox guarding the henhouse, although neither political party is eager to address this issue. The odor, the degradation of the land is disgusting. The situation utterly depressing. Life in Iowa, particularly rural Iowa is becoming untenable, but I guess that is what Big Ag desires.
Ah, the delightful aroma of injected manure from October until New Years. Putrid. Do they spread it in your area instead of injecting? Injecting reeks as well.
Nope, injected.
Dian. Little follow up. I heard of producers adding nitrogen stabilizers during early application early at a substantial cost. But, ya can't help it: Shit stinks!!
What is ISU's recommendation against what practice? I'm not familiar with it, thanks.
https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/blog/brian-dougherty/early-fall-applied-manure-can-lead-corn-yield-loss
Thank u very much. I realize a lot of hog manure is going on right now. One thing that is known the soil is severely drier than when these recommendations were made. With that, the manure has is attached to the super dry soil and not moved down.
you and Jess Piper, a Democrat from rural Missouri, should connect. She's been barnstorming rural America and has some great ideas.
https://jesspiper.substack.com
Check this out https://jesspiper.substack.com/p/iowa-city-and-clean-water
Chris and Jess did a wonderful presentation together in Iowa City a few months back!
And here https://open.substack.com/pub/rleonard/p/progressive-power-grows-in-the-rural?r=56mla&utm_medium=ios
Politicians do not care what we say about water quality but farmers do. They are embarrassed by damage they cause to the environment but they tell me they are only following the rules they are given. The blame belongs to those that apply more fertilizer than the plants need. The blame belongs to those that construct the CAFO backed up to the nearest ravine. The blame belongs to those that tear out retention dams without regards for out lakes and streams. Expose the polluters and maybe they will seek political relief from this embarrassment.
US agriculture parallels my profession, the medical industrial complex. In healthcare, as in ag, we adhere to the Einstein principle...doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results. There is no good end to these practices. The Dust Bowl of the 30s was manmade. The next agricultural apocalypse will be as well.
Thanks for the dose of Prozac. Much needed ...
Thank you.
your article is superb and your book is amazing(or can i say amaizing??), anyway, my first experience with grits was in the basement cafeteria at palmer college in davenport...we had many students who hailed from south of the mason/dixon line...nice nudge at the old 2 holer also, i know you know...
thanks for the comment and your kind words about my work Robert!
I grow bloody butcher a lot of times. Also a blue dent corn which is probably superior. I make corn meal flour and corn meal for bread. Happy gardening!!!