Michigan counts nearly 11,000 agricultural wells, 3,800 of them installed from 2010 to 2020. Once concentrated in southwest Michigan, high-volume irrigation wells have spread north as far as Antrim County, and through central Michigan. © J. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue

Toxic Terrain

Fertilizer and manure in the U.S. Corn Belt contaminate water and ruin the quality of life.

Articles in this project are a joint production of Circle of Blue and The New Lede and are edited by Carey Gillam, managing editor of The New Lede.

Make America Polluted Again Starts in Iowa

Make America Polluted Again Starts in Iowa

Without controls, water contamination from Big Ag gets steadily worse.

President Donald Trump’s campaign to carve up federal environmental agencies…

Seeking Answers to a Cancer Crisis in Iowa, Researchers Question if Agriculture is to Blame

Seeking Answers to a Cancer Crisis in Iowa, Researchers Question if Agriculture is to Blame

Regulators Battle Oregon and Washington Farmers Over Limits to Farm Contamination

Regulators Battle Oregon and Washington Farmers Over Limits to Farm Contamination

Huge Organic Farm In Iowa Thrives Without Chemicals

Huge Organic Farm In Iowa Thrives Without Chemicals

Amish Farmers’ Partnership With Beef Giant Produces Manure Mess

Amish Farmers’ Partnership With Beef Giant Produces Manure Mess

Michigan’s New Rules To Protect Water From Manure Attacked By Lawmakers

Michigan’s New Rules To Protect Water From Manure Attacked By Lawmakers

Environmental Groups Face Off With EPA to Control Manure Pollution

Environmental Groups Face Off With EPA to Control Manure Pollution

U.S. Movement to Limit CAFO Pollution Emboldened by Michigan Court Ruling

U.S. Movement to Limit CAFO Pollution Emboldened by Michigan Court Ruling

In Significant Decision For Michigan’s Waters, State Supreme Court Rules EGLE Has Authority To Do Its Job

In Significant Decision For Michigan’s Waters, State Supreme Court Rules EGLE Has Authority To Do Its Job

An Iowa Farm County Seeks Answers To Cancer Rate 50% Higher Than National Average

An Iowa Farm County Seeks Answers To Cancer Rate 50% Higher Than National Average

Despite $Billions Spent, Tide of Harmful Farm Pollutants Grows Ever Larger

Despite $Billions Spent, Tide of Harmful Farm Pollutants Grows Ever Larger

New Report Sparks Questions and Controversy Over Possible Causes for Iowa “Cancer Crisis”

New Report Sparks Questions and Controversy Over Possible Causes for Iowa “Cancer Crisis”

Cancer-Related Disease and Deaths Spur Actions to Fight Farm Chemical Contamination in Corn Belt

Cancer-Related Disease and Deaths Spur Actions to Fight Farm Chemical Contamination in Corn Belt

“We Can’t Sit Back” – Amid Polluted Water and Climbing Cancer Rates, Iowa Eyes Farm Chemicals

“We Can’t Sit Back” – Amid Polluted Water and Climbing Cancer Rates, Iowa Eyes Farm Chemicals

Push to Turn Farm Manure into Renewable Energy Draws Concerns

Push to Turn Farm Manure into Renewable Energy Draws Concerns

Will Energy From Manure Help or Harm Water Quality in Michigan?

Will Energy From Manure Help or Harm Water Quality in Michigan?

US Regulators Order Minnesota to Clean Up Nitrate Contaminated Water

US Regulators Order Minnesota to Clean Up Nitrate Contaminated Water

EPA Restarts Assessment of Health Risks from Nitrate in Water

EPA Restarts Assessment of Health Risks from Nitrate in Water

“What We’re Up Against” – North Dakota Towns Fight Farm Bureau to Keep Water Clean

“What We’re Up Against” – North Dakota Towns Fight Farm Bureau to Keep Water Clean

In Minnesota, Families Blame Farm Nutrient Contamination On Heavy Cancer Toll

In Minnesota, Families Blame Farm Nutrient Contamination On Heavy Cancer Toll

Offering Up Advice For Farmers, Universities Add To US Water Pollution

Offering Up Advice For Farmers, Universities Add To US Water Pollution

Minnesota Tribe Sets Enforceable Rules To Safeguard Wild Rice and Water Supply

Minnesota Tribe Sets Enforceable Rules To Safeguard Wild Rice and Water Supply

How Big Ag Pollutes America’s Waters and Makes Money Doing It

How Big Ag Pollutes America’s Waters and Makes Money Doing It

In Iowa, a Tale of Politics, Power, and Contaminated Water

In Iowa, a Tale of Politics, Power, and Contaminated Water

U.S. Pushes Farmers to Develop A New Crop: Energy

U.S. Pushes Farmers to Develop A New Crop: Energy

U.S. Counts on “Climate-Smart” Farms to Slow Global Warming

U.S. Counts on “Climate-Smart” Farms to Slow Global Warming

New U.S. Climate Law Will Make Water Contamination Worse

New U.S. Climate Law Will Make Water Contamination Worse

Opposition to CAFOs Mounts Across the Nation

Opposition to CAFOs Mounts Across the Nation