The recently-formed “Iowa Alliance for Responsible Agriculture” is calling on state officials to issue a moratorium that forbids new construction or expansion of livestock confinements. The group says Iowa water quality has sunk so low, it’s time for action. Chris Peterson farms near Clear Lake. He is a past president of the Iowa Farmers Union.
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Joyce Otto lives near Grinnell and a new Prestage Farms facility with five-thousand hogs is about half a mile from her home.
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The group delivered petitions to the governor’s office late (Wednesday) morning. A spokesman for Governor Terry Branstad was not immediately available for comment.