Iowans to Gather with Legislators to Support Statewide Factory Farm Moratorium

DES MOINES, IA -- Hundreds of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Food & Water Watch, and Iowa Alliance for Responsible Agriculture members from across Iowa will be gathering in the Capitol’s rotunda to pressure legislators to take bold action on factory farms Thursday at 2 PM. They will urge legislators to support bills proposing a moratorium on new and expanding factory farms as spelled out by Rep. Sharon Steckman’s House File 203 and a companion bill to be introduced by Senator Claire Celsi.

Legislators and impacted community members will lay out concerns about factory farming and the impacts it has on water, communities, and independent family farms.                                                        

Bill Stowe, Des Moines Water Works CEO, and General Manager will address the threat of nitrate pollution to public water supplies. In 2015, the DMWW spent $1.5 million on nitrate removal to protect its 500,000 customers.                                               

Barb Kalbach, independent family farmer and Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement member, will discuss the effect factory farms have had on her farm. Between 1982 and 2007, Iowa lost 82% of its hog farms.                   

Representative Sharon Steckman and Senator Claire Celsi, lead sponsors of the moratorium bills, will speak to the bills and the need to assess the impacts of factory farming.          

What: Press conference and rally calling on legislators to support a moratorium on new and expanded factory farms

When: Thursday, February 21st, 2 PM

Where: Capitol Rotunda

Speakers:

• Bill Stowe, Des Moines Water Works CEO & GM
• Representative Sharon Steckman, D-53
• Senator Claire Celsi, D-21
• Barb Kalbach, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
• Diane Rosenberg, Iowa Alliance for Responsible Agriculture
• Emma Schmit, Food & Water Watch

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