A University of Northern Iowa study finds the state’s manure management regulations aren’t doing enough to protect the environment. U-N-I biology professor Laura Jackson says everyday manure practices were studied on livestock lots, not spills or accidents. She says right now we’re not doing a good job of protecting our water.The study was published in the latest issue of the “Journal of Soil and Water Conservation.” Jackson says public records were analyzed on manure management practices for ten confined animal feeding operations in a six-square mile area of north central Iowa.She says those practices still fall within state regulations. She says statewide zoning regulations are needed for density of animals along with crop rotation that balances nutrient input and crop uptakes and greater use of swine housing systems.
