About JFAN
Since 2005, JFAN has worked to protect Jefferson County – and Iowa – from factory farms. JFAN is a 501(c)(3) community organization of rural and town residents that works to educate and protect Jefferson County and Iowa from factory farms.
What We Do - For You
LOCALLY: We Educate with An Empowering, Community Information Program and Continuously Monitor for Proposed Factory Farms
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At the heart of JFAN’s work is our full array of educational activities and events developed to empower Jefferson County residents – and beyond. This includes compelling meetings with leading speakers that draw attendees locally, statewide, and nationally. Our education program includes an information-dense website, newsletters, action alerts, letters to the editor, and more.
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We check twice a week with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Jefferson County Auditor’s office for new or expanding CAFOs and inform neighbors within a two-mile radius with a comprehensive information packet if any threaten. If requested, we meet wtih community members to provide strategic informational guidance and support to help them work to stop the confinement.
STATEWIDE AND NATIONALLY: We Fight for Clean Water, Stronger CAFO Regulations, and a CAFO Moratorium
JFAN’s efforts go far beyond Jefferson County. We work in partnerships with state and national groups on a range of issues including:
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Stronger factory farm laws and regulations to protect people and the environment
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Clean water initiatives, including fighting for restored real-time nitrate sensor funding
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Working with the 120-member national Defeat EATS Coalition to oppose the EATS/Save Our Bacon Act
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Collaborating with a national coalition to stop pesticide immunity language in Iowa and federal laws
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Educating legislators on agricultural issues of importance to all Iowans
JFAN often takes the initiative in bringing together organizations to address factory farming issues of importance to all Iowans.
We’ve been sought out by a wide range of media outlets for interviews including Associated Press, Bloomberg News, Des Moines Register, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Sentient News, Vox, Inside Climate News and more.
Our work has even been featured in the documentary Right to Harm.
Through community education, informational guidance and support, and statewide coalition efforts, JFAN promotes a healthier and more sustainable agricultural system that protects all Iowans from factory farms. JFAN strongly supports traditional, independent family farms that raise livestock using responsible, respectful, and regenerative practices. JFAN – Farms not Factories!
MISSION STATEMENT
Our History
In 2005, a Jefferson County CAFO owner threatened to build 20 new factory hog farms in the county. Alarmed, a group of concerned farmers and neighbors united to educate the public about the impacts of industrial ag and effectively organized to stop those 20 factory farms.
The early organizers realized Southeast Iowa was targeted for increased development. Constant attention was crucial to continue to protect the county.
For over two decades, JFAN has worked to prevent an explosion of concentrated animal feeding operations – CAFOs – from inundating Jefferson County and threatening the health, property value, and quality of life of its residents. It has more than paid off.
About 15 years ago, JFAN expanded to work on state and national issues of concern to all Iowans. We’ve developed strong working relationships with environmental organizations around the state and country working to protect Iowans from harmful effects of factory farms and to advocate for stronger CAFO regulations, clean water, and more just and sustainable agricultural system.
JFAN supports responsible, respectful and regenerative livestock practices.
