Creston Workshop to Help Farmers Prepare for Inspections

01-31-2014 in Events

West Des Moines, IA – January 31, 2014 – Farmers concerned about inspections of livestock farms can attend an informational workshop March 4 (rescheduled from Feb. 20, due to inclement weather) from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Allied Health and Science Center on the main Southwestern Community College campus in Creston.

EPA Region 7 and the Iowa DNR recently signed a work plan agreement that established guidelines for evaluations of livestock and poultry farms. This plan obligates DNR to evaluate livestock farms larger than 300 animal units and document whether the farms are in compliance with the Clean Water Act. Over 8,500 livestock farms are expected to be evaluated in the next five years.

This “DNR Regulations for Your Farm” features several speakers, including Dan Olson, Iowa DNR Environmental Specialist; Brian Waddingham, Executive Director of the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers; and Wayde Ross, NRCS District Conservationist. They will explain the work plan, resources available for impacted farmers, and EQIP funding to help producers make necessary changes.

The workshop is free to attend and light refreshments will be provided.

“Livestock regulations are complex, sometimes ambiguous and are constantly changing,” says CSIF Executive Director Brian Waddingham. “For Iowa’s livestock and poultry farms to prosper, farmers must know and understand state and federal regulations and the resources available to help them remain viable on the land for generations to come.  This workshop will help livestock farmers better understand how the work plan agreement will affect them and their farm.”

For more information, click here or contact SWCC’s Francine Ide at (641) 344-2225 or ide@swcciowa.edu.

Recommended News