This handout was composed by our lobbyist Judie Hoffman and her college intern Dan Thele, and handed to all legislators last week. Please make contact with YOUR legislators about this bill and tell them you oppose it!

It Is Time For Action, Not Another Study
The “Livestock Odor Research and Air Modeling Study” included in HF
2862 is a seriously flawed piece of legislation because it delays
progress in improving Iowa’s air quality.  Now is the time when we
should be acting on current scientific findings in order to protect
agricultural workers and those who live in rural Iowa.

Action on Air Quality Needed Now
Research has already been done on cost effective ways to mitigate
odor.  Included are better siting methods, and the use of biofilters
and covers on lagoons.  Iowa’s taxpayers should not be required to fund
another round of studies on proven technologies when the legislature
has not shown any willingness to act on the information already
gathered from previous studies.  Instead we should require producers to
implement what we already know.

Minnesota
has enacted ambient air quality standards that limit hydrogen sulfide
to 0.05 parts per million and is working on limiting ammonia
emissions.   Missouri, Nebraska, and Colorado regulate sulfur emissions
and emissions of other types.

Health Effects of Gases and Particulates
Emitted From Livestock Operations
Ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, two odor causing gases emitted from confined
feedlot operations, are known to cause serious respiratory problems.

The bacteria found within particulates
emitted from livestock operations create lung inflammation that leads to
non-allergic asthma.  Twenty-five percent of those who work in confined
feedlot operations have some form of respiratory disease, 10% higher than the United States working
population as a whole.

Conclusion
Before Iowa funds another odor study, Iowa Farmers Union
urges you to act on scientific information that has already been
gathered.  Regulations should be put on ammonia and hydrogen sulfide
emissions and the health effects of emissions from livestock operations
should be investigated.  If this is not done, the proposed study will
amount to little more than a means to further delay action on this
important issue.