An ISU graduate said the backlash that resulted from her research on swine pollution has damaged her reputation and hurt her ability to receive grants.

JoAnn Burkholder, director for the Center for Applied Aquatic Ecology at North Carolina State University, said she has been harassed by members of the swine industry after her research revealed the harmful impact of swine pollution on North Carolina rivers.

“I was informed by a higher official at N.C. State University that the day the data were released, there were more than 160 messages sent in by various representatives of the concentrated swine industry demanding that I be fired,” Burkholder said.

ISU scientists say they have little problem with industry pressure.

Brian Kerr, research leader for the National Swine Research and Info Center, said he has not encountered problems with groups trying to influence research.

“I have never had a group suggest anything in terms of holding data,” Kerr said.

He said the mission of the Swine Research Center is to reduce swine production odor through nutrition and microbiology, and because the research does not deal with human health issues it is not controversial.

“Ninety-nine percent of what we do is not controversial,” he said.

Kerr said he works with advisory groups comprised of people familiar with the industry, such as producers and members of the National Pork Board.

“They have never exerted any influence,” Kerr said.

Phillip Baumel, distinguished professor of agricultural economics, said industry pressure is not a problem, although one of his studies displeased the Iowa Corn Growers Association.

His study in 2000 looked at the cost of extending the lock-and-dam system on the Mississippi River and concluded that the benefits to agriculture would be less than the cost.

Corn growers partly funded the study and felt the system would speed up shipment. When Baumel’s study revealed the benefits would not be worth the cost, crow growers were upset.

“The corn growers weren’t thrilled with the results,” he said.

Baumel said the corn growers had conferences with ISU President Gregory Geoffroy and the College of Agriculture dean, Catherine Woteki, but university officials stood behind his research.

The Iowa Corn Growers Association Web site states it supports research that will benefit Iowa corn growers: “The primary goal of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board research committee is to fund projects that will increase demand for corn in existing markets and create new market opportunities for all corn produced in Iowa.”

The committee said it aims to “utilizes the expertise of professionals from both the academic and private sectors to assist in making decisions on which projects have the best potential for increasing corn utilization in the state.”

Baumel said outside pressure shouldn’t pose a problem if the research is solid.

“Convince people you’ve done the job right and at Iowa State there should be no problems,” he said.

Baumel and Burkholder said tenure is important in allowing faculty to conduct independent research.

“[Tenure] plays a major role in allowing faculty to conduct proper research on controversial issues,” Baumel said.

“[Having tenure] shields you from this pressure.”

Burkholder said the results of industry pressure has had a negative impact on her job, and that pressure to suppress unwelcomed results is more common than most people know.

“I believe that it is, sadly, very much the norm in many powerful industries,” Burkholder said.