We Can’t Go On Like This: An Excerpt from ‘Storm Lake’, Civil Eats, 2019

The excerpt from "Storm Lake" highlights the serious challenges Iowa faces due to unsustainable farming practices, especially water pollution caused by fertilizer runoff. Art Cullen explains that surface waters in Iowa are now among the most polluted in North America, mainly because factory farms and industrial crop production increase erosion and nutrient loss. Despite this damage, Cullen suggests there are affordable solutions—like planting cover crops and reducing chemical use—that could help both farmers and local communities. The piece ultimately urges community action and political commitment to restore soil health and safeguard water quality for current and future generations.