Fertilizer runoff from Midwest farms flows into the Mississippi River, creating a "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico and affecting drinking water upstream.
Despite over 25 years of federal efforts and billions in funding, targets for reducing runoff are far from being met.
The "Farm to Trouble" series explores potential solutions and examines the ongoing impact of agricultural runoff on the environment.
Fertilizers filled with the nutrient boosted our ability to feed the planet. Today, they’re creating vast and growing dead zones in our lakes and seas.
The toxic cyanobacterial bloom that’s become a yearly problem in Lake Erie’s western basin was relatively small this year. But the bloom has lasted an unusually long time. It didn't start to break up until recently.
