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DNR holds hearings on new IA livestock farm rules

May 13, 2014, Des Moines, IA — While Iowa environmental regulators hold public hearings on a new proposed rule designed to improve water quality through better enforcement of livestock farms, manure spills are occurring that highlight the problems with managing a growing livestock industry.

It’s a difficult balance Iowa must find between encouraging livestock production that generates more than $13 billion a year in sales and handling the waste generated by 60 million chickens, 20 million pigs, 9 million turkeys and 4 million cows.

The Department of Natural Resources is holding six hearings around the state over the next week on a proposed rule that “would bring Iowa’s requirements for concentrated animal feeding operations into compliance with federal regulations,” according to an agency statement. READ MORE