The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has released its annual measurement of the Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone. According to NOAA the dead zone is larger than initially forecast in June and they say is caused by nitrogen runoff from Midwestern farms. Iowa Farmers Union President Aaron Lehman says Iowa’ Nutrient Reduction Management Strategy which was put in to address the problem needs to provide more incentives to producers for it to work effectively.
He says the NOAA report is concerning and could lead to more regulations put on agriculture. Lehman is hopeful that won’t happen but that government will work with farmers on their environmental practices.
Lehman says because there will likely be more regulatory pressures put on agriculture following this report that it’s even more important the incentive fixes are made to the Nutrient Reduction Management Strategy.
The NOAA report says the Dead Zone which is a low area for oxygen is ten times the size of New Orleans Lake Ponchartrain.
