Jefferson County Farmers and Neighbors, Inc.

In many counties throughout Iowa, and throughout many states, the proliferation of CAFOs and the lack of adequate regulations is causing a serious environmental problem, destroying air quality, water quality, and the quality of life for those who live in the vacinity. If this is OK with you, do nothing. However, if you would like to help insure the quality of your environment and your ability to enjoy life in Iowa, there are some simple steps you can take that will help make a difference.

1. Educate Yourself
Read articles on this site and articles linked to from this site on the home page, the news page, and the links page. The 30 minutes plus you spend reading will make you an informed citizen and voter. You will understand the issues, the threat to your quality of life, and what needs to happen to protect your quality of life. Sitting on the sidelines is not an option, unless you're comfortable living next to a CAFO.

2. Contact Elected Officials
Although they are supposed to be representing the interests of their constituents, they are clearly influenced by agri-business campaign contributions and agri-business-funded political action committees (PACs). If they don't hear from you, they assume you're happy with the job they are doing and the way they vote. If you DO make the effort to contact them, your voice is amplified many times, as so few people make the effort. This page has all of the contact information, the rest is up to you!

3. Talk to your Neighbors
Many people are either not informed or are ill-informed. Make the effort to visit with your neighbors; find out their position, and help them find the information they need to develop informed positions.

4. Report Suspicious Activity
Call Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement at 515-282-0484 immediately if you see what might be a CAFO being constructed or if you see what might be an illegal manure dumping.

5. Report Strong Odors
The Department of Natural Resources is encouraging citizens to call and report factory farm odor problems as part of a state-wide odor field study. The toll free phone number to call is 1-800-961-ODOR.

After calling this main number, you will be asked to punch a button and routed to your regional DNR field office. Unless there is an environmental emergency, a DNR inspector will then visit to test for odor problems and collect data. Also, because you speak with DNR field staff, your complaint will only be documented if you call between normal business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) If the DNR does not follow-up with your complaint, call Iowa CCI (515-282-0484) and let them know.

Unfortunately, the DNR can not issue a violation to factory farms for odor at this time because we are still fighting hard to get clean air rules on the book in Iowa. But your complaint will be documented and inspected. This will help us keep the pressure on DNR to establish clean air rules!

Help let the DNR know exactly how big the factory farm odor problem is in rural Iowa and why we need clean air rules now!

6. Support JFAN
There are two primary ways you can support JFAN-- tax-deductible donations, and volunteer work. Donations are needed to assist with the high cost of litigation. There is also a wide variety of volunteer projects, from water quality monitoring, to office support, to working to change legislation. If you are interested in volunteering, we'll work with you to find volunteer work that matches your interests and skills. Just enter your contact information on the Volunteer Form and someone will be in touch with you.

7. Join Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (Iowa CCI or ICCI)
ICCI is a 30 year-old organization that has been successfully fighting for environmental and community improvement issues in Iowa. The are quite active in the factory farm area, and are working diligently to change legislation to bring local control back to the county level. Individual membership is only $25 and family membership is $35. Click here to join. ICCI is working hard to improve the quality of life in Iowa, and they need your support.