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Parrish: Gulf ‘dead zone’ growth the result of heavy rain

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says the Gulf of Mexico “dead zone” is bigger than ever.  Scientists determined the size of the area with reduced oxygen levels to be about the size of New Jersey.  The NOAA says the “dead zone” – a threat to marine life – is caused by nutrient runoff in the Mississippi River watershed.

Don Parrish with the American Farm Bureau Federation says increased runoff is the result of heavy Midwest spring rain.

“This occurrence is because of a huge extreme weather event that was well beyond the control of what farmers could do,” Parrish told Brownfield Ag News Thursday.

Farmers, said Parrish, are making progress in efficient nitrogen use.

“I am so proud of the track record and conservation practices that farmers are doing and that states are doing in terms of their nutrient loss reduction strategies,” he said.

The NOAA and other agencies have a new initiative called the Runoff Risk Advisory Forecast designed to help farmers apply fertilizer at optimum times to limit nutrient runoff to the Gulf.

AUDIO: Don Parrish (5 min. MP3)