This week in Iowa organizing…

Written By Katie Bryan

Last week we learned that County Supervisors in Hardin County voted to approve yet another factory farm in the area. And not just anyone's factory farm - a Bruce Rastetter factory farm.

Once the Environmental Protection Commission gives their seal of approval (all but guaranteed), that'll be 173 factory farms in Iowa that Rastetter has an ownership interest in. That's a lot of liquid manure!

Pair that with the news of 17 state beach advisories over the weekend, it's clear we need to correct course. 

We can have clean water to drink, swim, and fish in. We can have diversified, thriving family farms and vibrant rural communities. But it’s going to take standing up to folks like Bruce Rastetter and demanding government at the local and state level to work for us to hold corporate ag accountable.

It's no small task, but the people and places we love, and what we leave future generations, are worth fighting for. Let's keep at it,

 

Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director

Take action

August 13 & 14: water quality listening sessions in Dubuque

This Wednesday and Thursday, researchers from Iowa State University will be holding listening sessions on water quality in Dubuque. Community input will be incorporated into reports and policy briefs to be shared with decision makers.

The sessions will be held at Backpocket Brewery, 333 E. 10th St in Dubuque. Reach out to Sydney Ettin, ettins@iastate.edu with any questions or to RSVP.

August 14: Virtual Farm Tour series

Get ready for our third and final stop on the Virtual Farm Tour!

Thus far we've learned about restoring native grasslands and cover crops as solutions to soil health, water quality and climate change.

Join us this Thursday, August 14 at 6:00pm on Zoom! 

Whether or not you were able to attend our first stops, please join for our final stop of the summer to learn about pasture management! 

Episode 3: Rotational Grazing and combating climate change!

  • Featuring: John Hogeland, who moved back to Lovilia, Iowa, from California with his wife, Beth Hoffman, to take over as the fifth generation on the family farm. With a background as a butcher and chef, John has transitioned the 570 acres of the farm to a grass-fed cattle and goat operation. They use rotational grazing practices and are continuing to add native forages to their system.

It's going to take all of us to create a better food and farm system - one that works for farmers, workers, eaters, and the environment. Register to join us here!

September 4: Defeat the Cancer Gag Act (again)

This past legislative session, Iowans came together to defeat Bayer's Cancer Gag Act. So now they've set their sights on the federal level to gain immunity from lawsuits if folks are harmed from using their products.

We're not backing down or rolling over, we'll keep fighting for what's right. That's why we're coming together over Zoom on September 4 at 6pm to get the latest on Bayer's efforts and strategize ways to defeat their Cancer Gag Act again. RSVP to join us here!

In the Des Moines area and want to help us get lots of folks to join us on September 4? We'll be hosting two phone banks at the CCI office, join us for an hour of making calls on August 20 @ 6pm (RSVP here) or August 28 @ 2pm (RSVP here).

Celebrating 50 years

Video: What's made CCI special for 50 years?

Leading up to our 50th Anniversary Convention, we interviewed members who've been involved at different points in our history, to hear their CCI stories and find out what they think makes Iowa CCI's organizing so special. Give the 4:25 minute video a watch!

Water Talk

Thanks to CCI's water testers for engaging in the science

Thanks to everyone participating in CCI’s water monitoring campaign with Nitrate Watch! There are over 260 sites across the state that are associated with CCI testers. Our Citizen Scientists have recorded over 1200 nitrate data points in the Clean Water Hub, and there are 55 active testers who are consistently collecting samples and recording data. Great work!

The water testing crew meets on the last Thursday of the month. Click here to get registered for our next monthly Zoom on Thursday, August 28 at 5pm.

Join CCI’s Citizen Science – click here for more info and to order a Nitrate Watch test kit

Thanks for caring about and taking action for Iowa's water!THEY dump it. WE drink it. WE won’t stop until THEY clean it up.

Articles of Interest

What We're Reading

These are a few links that are informing our work - we've shared them so that you can read, too!

  • Industrial pollution once ravaged the Adirondacks - decades of history captured in lake mud track their slow recovery [The Conversation]

  • Beyond protests -- the importance of building community [Deep Midwest: Politics and Culture]

  • A rebuke of science and the promise of sustainable aviation fuel [MinnPost]

  • School funding, burnout among biggest issues facing educators, say rural Iowa teachers [KCRG]

  • Could the EPA's greenhouse gas reversal help factory farms pollute even more? [Sentient Media]

Katie Bryan
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This week in Iowa organizing…