You are being blamed for the hypoxia dead zone, even though
nitrogen (N) use has not increased since 1980. The dead zone,
which is said to be draining the life out of more than 8,000 sq.
mi. of the Louisiana and Texas Gulf Coast, could cause use of N
and phosphorus (P) to be regulated to prevent runoff and
leaching — whether it's your fault or not. “Unfortunately,
farmers will continue to receive criticism,” says Don Parrish,
environmental policy manager for American Farm Bureau
Federation. Science indicates that growers are handling N better
and seeing higher yields despite cutting back on N applications.
Nevertheless, farmers receive the most criticism from
environmental groups. A plan issued this summer by the EPA
increases the reduction in N and P emissions into the Gulf of
Mexico to 45% each, up from 30% in policy set in 2001. The
summer also saw environmental groups in nine states petition EPA
to set and enforce pollution standards in the 31 states of the
Mississippi River Basin. The hypoxia zone, about