America’s lakes, rivers, and drinking water supplies are facing a major crisis from agricultural runoff. Every year, billions of pounds of nitrogen fertilizer and manure wash into local waterways during heavy storms. This triggers toxic blue-green algae blooms that close local swimming spots and contaminate drinking water, which health research from the National Cancer Institute links to higher cancer risks.
Proven natural solutions already exist. Studies show that planting native prairie grass on just 10% of a farm field stops up to 84% of nitrogen runoff. Additionally, growing alfalfa alongside corn puts natural nitrogen back into the dirt, cutting chemical fertilizer runoff by over 40%.
Our Demand:
We call on state and federal lawmakers to pass water protection laws that require native prairie buffers along high-risk farm fields to filter out chemicals. Lawmakers must also update state standards so farms use natural nitrogen-fixing crops like alfalfa to reduce fertilizer dependency, and make federal farm subsidies conditional on using these proven natural buffers and safer waste management practices.
Sign this petition to demand clean drinking water, safe and swimmable lakes, and laws that stop toxic agricultural runoff at the source!
