Letter to the Editor: We need a moratorium on industrial farming

(The following Letter to the Editor has been submitted by Kevin Lee of Decorah): "How old are you? It's a common enough question. I am 66 years old now and remember drinking out of a clear spring in the hillside. It tasted so good, there was nothing quite like its cool and crispness. I remember fishing and catching several species of fish in our little creek. That was long before stocking was even needed. 50 years is a determining period for being historic. If something is 50 years old it is deemed historic. I regret that my experience drinking fresh spring water and regularly fishing is seen as historic. My kids and grandkids never truly had the chance to experience all the beauty of Iowa before mega-pollution from factory farms and industrial agriculture took over the state. Having been a self employed historic mason, I have ventured to all corners of Winneshiek County. On my trips I regularly drank from many of our water sources in the county. Much of our water is contaminated with nitrates or some other villains. Drinking freely from springs and other waters today would be a massive health risk. Even our household water has been impacted by pollution. Wells are much deeper today and the water is not nearly as tasty as that spring water we drank 60 or more years ago. In my opinion a solution to preservation or rather rehabilitation of our historic spring water is to place a moratorium on industrial agriculture and expound on regenerative agriculture with the greening of our fields for local food production at local markets. Do this NOW and our offspring will drink out of a spring. My connection to home was shaped by the springs of my childhood. Drinking from local waters creates a sense of place too. Every child deserves those kinds of experiences and connection to home."