Jan. 12, 2023 www.investigatemidwest.org Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting
Nitrates trickling into Minnesota groundwater
Many rural Minnesotans rely on private wells for their drinking water.
Groundwater is impacted by what happens on the surrounding land. When farmers apply large amounts of fertilizer to crop fields, some of the nutrients trickle below the surface.
When those chemicals make private wells unsafe to drink, well owners have to find, and pay for, new water sources.
— Madison McVan, reporter
Agriculture pollutes underground drinking water in Minnesota | Madison McVan, Investigate Midwest
Many rural Minnesotans rely on private wells, which tap into groundwater systems spread underneath rolling crop fields and livestock operations. When nitrates from the agriculture operations seep into the water and make it unsafe to drink, well owners pay the price. When nitrogen mixes with oxygenated water, it forms nitrate.
Drinking water with high levels of nitrate can cause methemoglobinemia or “blue baby syndrome,” a potentially life-threatening condition affecting the blood’s ability to carry oxygen throughout the body. Nitrates also have been linked to thyroid disease and certain cancers.
Editor's note: This story is part of an ongoing series. If you have any tips, ideas or questions, please contact madison.mcvan@investigatemidwest.org.
Graphic of the Week: Hog welfare laws covered less than 3% of all hogs in U.S. in 2022, USDA says | Sky Chadde, Investigate Midwest
Laws governing hog welfare are primarily in states that don’t contribute much to the nation’s pork supply, according to the USDA.
Column: Blazin’ Five farm predictions for 2023 | Dave Dickey
In his latest column, Dave Dickey explains what will be the five big topics in agriculture this year.
On climate change, he writes: "It's the lowest of the low hanging fruit but should be on the list every year until world leaders from nations A-to-Z unify and find the money and backbone needed to slow fossil fuel emissions that are warming the planet and creating havoc with the weather."
Read the others here.
Other news
The following stories are a product of the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk, an editorially independent reporting network based at the University of Missouri School of Journalism in partnership with Report For America and funded by the Walton Family Foundation. Investigate Midwest is part of this network.
What to know about the Farm Bill
The Farm Bill was first passed in 1933. While the bill still serves to support farmers, it has also evolved to fund food assistance programs and conservation efforts. It's up for negotiation in 2023. This story was written by Brittney Miller of the Cedar Rapids Gazette.
Summer internship applications open
Investigate Midwest is looking for applicants for its summer 2023 internship program. This position is for college students who will return to school after the internship.
We're an independent, nonprofit newsroom devoted to serving the public interest by exposing dangerous and costly practices of influential agricultural corporations and institutions through in-depth and data-driven investigative journalism.
This position is funded by the Gary Marx Fund, a resource created by longtime investigative reporter David Jackson to help educate the next generation of investigative reporters.
This is a part-time, possibly remote position for 30 hours a week. The internship begins Monday, June 5, and ends Friday, Aug. 11.
Find more details here.
