Illinois' Biggest Polluter: The Farm Bureau Fights Accountability
The Illinois Farm Bureau consistently resists accountability for agricultural runoff while advocating voluntary, incentive-based approaches to water quality problems. Voluntary programs can be effective if properly implemented, but they would be more effective if the programs would include a measure of accountability.
Voluntary conservation programs cannot reverse the trend toward increased water quality problems from polluted runoff. Concrete water quality goals with some measure of accountability are necessary, but the Illinois Farm Bureau has successfully resisted efforts to accomplish this.
Some facts:
• Even with over 77 percent of the land in Illinois used for agricultural
purposes, the agricultural industry is not held accountable for
the pollution that ends up in our rivers and streams. This means
that poor land-use practices, fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides
can be applied to almost 28 million acres of Illinois land without
any liability for the silt and chemicals that wash off the land
and into our waterways.
• Illinois Farm Bureau supports only voluntary measures, economic incentives, and education as a means to reduce water quality impacts from agricultural pollution. While voluntary efforts do help, the problem is too pervasive to rely on volunteers alone. The Farm Bureau opposes any other solutions that would hold the agriculture industry accountable for water quality problems, as other industries are.
• Illinois Farm Bureau often insists that financial incentives must be attached to voluntary measures. "We support soil conservation programs using education, voluntary compliance, financial incentives, and other non-punitive means to encourage compliance" (1999 IFB Policy Resolutions, Section 37). This makes agriculture the only industry that is paid not to pollute our waters.
• Among the Farm Bureau's 1999 statements is a policy resolution opposing "any attempt to mandate low-input methods of farming," despite the fact that many rural communities spend millions to treat drinking water proven to be polluted by agricultural runoff. In such cases enforceable controls would help solve the problem.
• Virtually every town in Central Illinois -- including Decatur, Springfield, Mattoon, and Danville -- has problems with agricultural runoff affecting their drinking water supplies. State and local governments have spent millions of taxpayer dollars to pay for problems caused by the agricultural industry. For example, Decatur plans to spend an estimated $7.5 million, while Georgetown spent $3.5 million.
• The Illinois Farm Bureau encourages local governments "to utilize all practical means to control non-farm soil erosion" (1999 Illinois Farm Bureau Policy Resolutions, Section 37). However, the Farm Bureau opposed similar measures for agricultural lands, most notably in a letter from Illinois Farm Bureau President Ron Warfield to then Lt. Gov. Kustra stating, "We have reservations with county ordinances to address water quality issues" (Illinois River Strategy Team, "Illinois River Watershed Plan," p.20).
• Illinois Farm Bureau policy resolutions call for County Soil and Water Conservation Districts to address urban wetland and stormwater management problems, while at the same time opposing similar management authority over farmland drainage (1999 IFB Policy Resolutions Section 20).
Summary
The Illinois Farm Bureau has repeatedly fought efforts to make
the agricultural industry accountable for water quality issues.
With almost 28 million acres in Illinois used for agricultural
purposes, lack of accountability for polluted runoff has a serious
effect. Without accountability, Illinois will continue to see
rising trends in phosphorous and nitrate/nitrite nitrogen, excessive
sedimentation, and impaired river miles.
How to contact Prairie Rivers Network:
Phone: 217-344-2371
Fax: 217-344-2381
Web: http://prairierivers.org
E-mail: info@prairierivers.org
Mail: 809 South Fifth Street, Champaign, IL 61820
