Gulf Hypoxic Zone.

The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) recently held a special seminar with agribusiness leaders, academics and government officials to update the ag industry on the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone. The event, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, was held immediately following the 2007 InfoAg.

Shown here are William Franz, EPA; John Kessler, Ohio Dept of Natural Resources; CTIC Chairman Timothy Healey, Lange-Stegmann; Kyle Nichol, CTIC, and John Hassell, Agrotain.

A recent study reported the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers accounted for 84% of the Nitrate (N) and 64% of the Phosphate flux into the Gulf. Officials reported that although cultivated agricultural land may be responsible for some of the discharge, ranked highest among the 100 largest sources of both N and P was the City of Chicago and its water treatment facility inadequacies.

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