Protecting N.D. farmland
It seems as time passes, issues either fade away or grow in relevance.
Farming and the environment have always shared conflicting interests. Logically, we all share a common interest in the environment. Without healthy water, air, soil, plants and animals we wouldn’t be here.
Regardless if you are a farmer in North Dakota or a soil scientist in Egypt, we can all profit from a healthy environment.
One current controversy examines how current society maintains and restores the quality of Earth for the future in a peaceful and legal manner.
At a recent Collegiate Farm Bureau meeting, many disturbing articles were discussed. Some activist groups advocate that the plains states, from North Dakota to Texas, be restored to their presettlement days.
In this method, the 400 million acres these states comprise would be eradicated of all farming and industrial practices to allow native buffalo, flora and fauna to reestablish their roots here. This idea was found on the Web site www.gprc.org/Buffalo_Commons.html.
The justification is that the populations of these areas are dwindling, which increases soil erosion, climate changes, family violence, suicide, mental illness and water shortages. Speculatively speaking, I think if the populations of the rural Midwest were to be herded to the bordering cities to allow for buffalo, these issues would escalate. If this were to take place, where would the people go?
The Midwest produces some of the most respected lifestyles in the country, including Minnesota’s high educational standards and the strong work ethic you’ll find in many N.D. residents. The inner cities of the United States are congested and violent enough already without packing more people into less space for the sake of buffalo and grass.
Many activist groups are against mass production of agriculture, which especially includes cattle operations. According to the Web site Factoryfarm.org, dairy cow production and cattle feedlots are unethical and should be stopped.
Activist groups are serious and feel they are advocating a change for the best. Many of their tactics are simple and consist of fear, coercion, misleading studies and implementation of costly and timely ordinances or moratoriums.
Propaganda is a powerful tool used in coercing people to take sides on issues based on emotional rhetoric rather than the facts. Adolph Hitler once said, “If you tell a lie long enough, loud enough and often enough, the people will believe it.” By doing so, the unaware, uninvolved community is taken advantage of.
Local farmers can prevent unnecessary changes relatively easily. One way is to stay involved in the community. Continue to learn, ask the right questions and be critical when instituting any new policy.
Finally, look to your local colleges for studies, laws or personnel who might be able to help. The worst thing anyone can do is make emotional, hasty, naïve and ignorant decisions. Many activist groups prey on such actions. I encourage all of you to develop an interest in the policy changes in your community.
Columnists' opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of The Spectrum