Nitrates in Iowa’s Waterways: Context, History, and What It Means for Farmers

If you live in Iowa, you’ve probably heard the headlines.When Central Iowa Water Works turned on its nitrate removal system in January, it caught attention across the state. Winter operation is rare. Nitrate levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers were elevated. And once again, Iowa water quality and agriculture were in the news.In this episode of Under the Covers, we slow the conversation down.We talk about:The history and context behind Des Moines Water Works and Iowa farmersWhat actually happened during the 2015 Des Moines Water Works lawsuitHow that moment intersected with the early days of Iowa Cover CropWhat the nitrate removal system sounds like when it’s runningHow we felt about the lawsuit then and how we think about Iowa’s water quality progress nowPractical ideas for improving water quality moving forwardThis isn’t outrage radio.And we won’t pretend this is simple.It’s a farmer-to-farmer conversation about Iowa water quality, nitrogen management, responsibility, and the realities of modern agriculture.We don’t solve it.We don’t dodge it.We talk through it.And yes, we’re still playing cribbage while we do.If you care about:Iowa farmingWater qualityNitrogen managementRegenerative agricultureCover cropsAg policyTile drainageRural economicsOr how farmers are actually thinking about these issuesYou’re in the right place.When the game ends, the episode ends.Subscribe to the show so you don’t miss the next hand. Also, if you have enjoyed the podcast, leave us a review and share this episode to your support!Find us on social media in between episodes on:Facebook: https://facebook.com/iowacovercropInstagram: @iowacovercropX: @iacovercropYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iowacovercropLearn more about Iowa Cover Crop at www.iowacovercrop.com