2/27/01

Contacts:
Richard Larson, Agronomy, (515) 294-6429
Barb McManus, Ag Communications, (515) 294-0707

WATER QUALITY AND AGRICULTURE CONFERENCE MARCH 5-7 AT ISU

AMES, Iowa -- Water quality issues will be the topic at the "Agriculture and the Environment: State and Federal Water Initiatives," March 5-7 at Iowa State University. The conference will examine agriculture's impact on water quality and policies relating to watershed management.

Richard Larson, ISU agronomist, said the conference gives everyone involved in areas related to water quality management a chance to share information.

"It allows an exchange of ideas between those with experience and those who are just getting started on projects," Larson said. "The conference also will give people a chance to talk to specialists about their latest research."

State and federal agencies are monitoring water quality for non-point pollution problems. Larson said the conference will help producers understand the views of the regulatory agencies.

"If things don't change, these agencies may implement standards that will directly affect producers," Larson said. "We want producers to avoid overuse of nutrients so they may be able to avoid more regulations."

Other conference topics include:

• Iowa 2000 Water Initiative
• State Watershed Task Force Report Recommendations
• Future water quality programs: A national perspective
• Hypoxia
• State nutrient management strategy
• Conservation in the 2002 Farm Bill
• Results of the 2000 lake monitoring program
• Iowa Nutrient Management Task Force Report
• Overview of total maximum daily loads and update of state activities
• Update on animal feeding and confinement operations standards
• Wetlands and water quality

Sponsors are Iowa State's College of Agriculture, ISU Extension, the Iowa State Water Resources Research Institute, the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. on March 5 in ISU's Scheman Building. More information is available on the Web at: http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/aged/water_quality/MainWQ/wqm.htm. Or contact Richard Larson, Agronomy, (515) 294-6429, or Barb McManus, Agriculture Communications, (515) 294-0707.

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