Take a bow farmers on Earth Day

Many people associate the first Earth Day in 1970 as the beginning of the environmental movement in the United States. Farmers and ranchers understand it has gone on for many generations.

Earth Day is celebrated April 22. I can remember park cleanups, wading in streams to pickup trash (never realizing I might have been more at risk for tetanus.) In my elementary school years it was all but mandatory to enter local soil conservation district’s art and limerick contests to promote the cause. The artwork often featured larger-than life farmer who was always in a ballcap on a tractor with terraces in the background. The limericks were simple yet told the story of why it was important to save the soil.

As a kid I was more inclined to think about pollution when the air was filled in smog, i.e. the family trips to Denver, Colorado, or on a dusty day. After a heavy rainstorm we watched the rain and soil run off.

Farmers and ranchers on the plains were dialed into conservation early. The Dirty Thirties gave the ill prepared devastation. The relentless dust storms caused one of the greatest out migrations from the High Plains as it also came during the time of the Great Depression.

Congress acted and President Franklin Roosevelt signed legislation to help turn the tide. Of course, it was going to take time, and in some cases years to get soil stewardship in place. Out of necessity, our forefathers had a vision to use public and private partnerships to preserve farmland.

Today, farmers and ranchers have even more tools and technology available. Cover crops and no-till and minimal till keep precious topsoil in place.

It requires a great level of management. The cost of fertilizers and pesticides mean a farmer has to put his pencil to it to control his direct costs. The benefit helps him to be a better steward for those who live “downstream.”

Can we eliminate all surface water contamination? Will we stop all erosion? Can we stop all air pollution? The realistic answer, of course, is “no” in all three cases. But strides continue to be made and we can better measure the level of pollution.

As I have watched the remarkable run of technological advances in production agriculture I understand the common denominator starts with the entrepreneur who owns and manages the land. Nearly every farmer and rancher I know goes the extra mile to take care of his land as he knows that conserving farmland, grass and ponds is the best long-term investment he can make.

Earlier this year High Plains Journal had its Soil Health U and that shed additional light into how to conserve the soil and water but also how to use cover crops to enhance productivity.

Even as challenging economic times as farmers and ranchers face I remain bullish on their stewardship.