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Central North Carolina | Regarding the North Carolina information. Much has been done to reduce nitrogen run off into the neuse river. Rows crops in my opinion was just as responsible as the swine operations. Also, if you look at the neuse river basin, in begins in the Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh area which has had tremendous growth of subdivisions with well watered and fertilized yards. I know all those homeowners are having their soil tested and are only applying the correct amount of fertilizer! Very easy to blame those big bad livestock guys. There is not a single cattle feedlot in NC.
Here is the current status of the neuse from USDA
Data for 2003 show that the Neuse agricultural community achieved a 42 percent nitrogen reduction, exceeding the 30 percent goal set by the EMC and Neuse River TMDL. A continuous monitoring system was established in the lower portion of the basin, near the Neuse estuary. Using flow-adjusted nitrogen concentrations, long-term nutrient data show a 27 percent instream nitrogen reduction in 2003 as compared to the average flow-adjusted concentrations from the 1991 to 1995 baseline. This decrease, along with point source reductions, was accomplished by installing BMPs, implementing fertilizer management plans, and removing cropland from production. The new agricultural practices also led to lower phosphorus levels and slowed erosion, while farmers benefited from savings on fertilizer. The BMPs prevented more than 480,000 tons of soil from being washed away by erosion.
Edited by Douglas 4/28/2010 17:07
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The Problem with Factory Farms
