A Scientist Was Pushed Out for Studying Iowa’s Water. Now He’s Running to Regulate It.
Jones says 100 miles of kayaking underscored his push to curb factory-farm pollution and win support for water-quality reforms.
- Democratic nominee for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Chris Jones completed a 100-mile kayak tour down the Des Moines River in early September to highlight water pollution caused by industrial agriculture.
- Iowa is home to nearly 11,000 factory farms—the most in the nation—producing an estimated 170 billion pounds of manure annually, with nitrate pollution linked to the state's fastest-growing cancer rate.
- Jones raised over $255,000 this year as of July 2026, while incumbent Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig raised $400,000 with major donations from ethanol company CEOs and egg production facility executives.
- Story County Board of Supervisors Chair Linda Murken cited nitrate pollution as an existential threat; Vice Chair Latifah Faisal noted local governments lack authority to manage watershed issues effectively.
- Jones advocates crop diversification beyond corn and soy, arguing current agricultural systems are unsustainable and that neither political party adequately prioritizes common good issues.
14 Articles
14 Articles
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A scientist was pushed out for studying Iowa’s water. Now he’s running to regulate it.
Sentient reports Chris Jones, Iowa's Democratic nominee for Agriculture Secretary, prioritizes water quality reform after his research on the issue led to his resignation.
Chris Jones calls for a new future for Iowa agriculture
AMES – Democratic Iowa Secretary of Agriculture candidate Chris Jones is rethinking Iowa’s current agricultural system to reduce nutrient pollution in waterways. “We really have not made much progress, really, any progress, in addressing this nutrient pollution, and in some ways, we’ve gone backwards,” Jones said Wednesday evening at a campaign fundraiser. According to the Iowa Environmental Council, 54% of Iowa waterways have impairments, mea…
Ag sec candidates debate Iowa’s beef herd, water quality, land ownership, local food - Enterprise Media
Candidates for Iowa’s secretary of agriculture debated over their divergent plans for the role, though the candidates agreed on some issues like growing Iowa’s cattle herd and keeping Iowa land in farmers’ hands. Current Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is running for reelection as the Republican candidate against water quality researcher and activist Chris Jones who has called his bid […] The post Ag sec candidates debate Iowa’s beef herd, wa…
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