Today we focused on the environmental aspect of farming, which is ironic considering that was my topic yesterday. Anyway, we started out going to Des Moines to meet with HN’s friend from high school, Jenny Terry, at the Iowa Environmental Council. She was definitely one of my favorite people we’ve met with so far. She was so funny and energetic.

The meeting with the Iowa Environmental Council focused on the impact that farming has on the water. I knew that the water was affected by farming, but I had no idea that it was such a big impact. The pictures that Susan Heathcote showed us were disgusting. I’m really glad the water in South Carolina is better because I play in the creek behind my house all the time. I feel like the pictures had more of an impact on me personally than the statistics did. I think that they should put more pictures like that in their public relations materials if they want more public support.

Paarlberg seemed to take a very different view, though. He highlighted the environmental impact of conventional farming, but was adamant that organic farms also had environmental consequences. He made it seem like organic was just as bad as conventional farming and the goods outweigh the bads of conventional farming. I think he made a good point, but I do think that there needs to be more regulation of conventional farming to reduce runoff and soil erosion. Today’s meeting really solidified that for me.