It's in the water: MN's nitrate pollution problem

As we’ve seen industrial-scale agriculture balloon over the past 30 years - most evident in the growth of animal feedlots and monoculture row crop production - we’ve watched nitrate levels rise to crisis proportions in certain regions of our state. When applied at reasonable rates, nitrogen is an important nutrient for plant growth. But too much of it is dangerous for public health, as well as the health of fish and other aquatic life. We need targeted regulations of the industrial farming practices that threaten our water backed up by consistent enforcement.