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All across Iowa, livestock farmers are using modern, innovative systems to safeguard water quality. New livestock facilities constructed today safely store manure in concrete basins until it can be used as fertilizer for crops. According to the Iowa Pork Producers Association, nearly 76 percent of Iowa’s hog farmers currently use concrete or other formed manure storage structures to protect the state’s water resources. Many cattle farmers also use engineers to design manure storage and containment structures so that nearby streams and rivers remain clean and safe.
In addition, thousands of trees are planted each year on Iowa’s farmland. Many farm families are incorporating Vegetative Environmental Buffers (VEBs) around their livestock facilities to improve aesthetics and help reduce potential odor.
These efforts are having a positive impact.
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