Iowa Governor's Conference on Public Health

Approximately 50 million pounds of pesticides are applied to corn and beans in Iowa annually. As troubles of escalating pesticide use in Iowa and the Midwest are becoming more visible (weed resistance, pesticide drift, crop damage, etc.), it is important for public health professionals to know that ecologically sound and effective alternatives to weed and pest management exist and are practiced by innovative farmers and researchers in the state.

This session features an expert panel to help public health officials better understand 1) the nature of the current pattern of pesticide use in Iowa, 2) long term studies of cropping systems that take away the need for the vast majority of pesticides and other inputs, and 3) how farmers have implemented strategies that require no pesticides. Learning objectives include building a more complete understanding among statewide healthcare providers and public health professionals about ramifications of excessive pesticide use in Iowa, as well as agricultural strategies that can lead to a pattern of soil health, clean water, biodiversity conservation, healthy food, rural economic vitality, and a healthier public.