The Water Quality Working Group was started in 2016 at the request of executives of corn grower associations from several states dealing with agricultural fertilizer use and water quality policy. Several states were facing acute and serious threats of state water quality policy mandates in one form or another that would regulate corn farmers' use of nutrients. Many were facing significant pressure to ramp up such regulatory measures. We have since expanded the group and all state water quality staff are invited to two meetings a year where we bring experts in to talk about hot topics around water quality, sustainability, conservation and climate change. Attendees share what rules, regulations, and pressures they are facing in their states, programs they are having success with and how they are engaging their growers in times of pressure.
Alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:
- 2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding, and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality.
- 6.4 By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.
- 6.6 By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers, and lakes.
- 12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
