There are things Iowa farmers and other landowners can do to reduce the flow of nitrate pollution into the Mississippi River and, eventually, into the Gulf of Mexico.
But some possible solutions have been repeatedly side-tracked by cost, political stalemates and uncertainty over what benefits, if any, would result in the Gulf if measures to reduce fertilizer runoff from farm fields and other sources of pollution were in place across the Midwest farm belt.
Scientists say those hurdles might still be cleared, provided funding can be found and agricultural interests, government and other groups are willing to work together.
via Some call for tougher fertilizer regulations | The Des Moines Register