The Rural Voice, 1980-08, Page 6anything - people, industry, animals - in one place. Where does
it all go?"
Perhaps the two major obstacles standing in the way of
minimizing agriculture's contribution to water pollution are the
lack of awareness in the farming community of the extent of the
problem, and the long period of time it takes to implement
erosion control measures.
"It's not something that's going to happen today, tomorrow or
next month," says Jim McIntosh, a Huron County farmer who
has been involved in PLUARG's activities. "It's going to take ten
years maybe."
The movement doesn't begin, however, until an awareness of
the situation and alternatives develop. That, in fact, may be the
biggest problem of all.
LACK OF AWARENESS A PROBLEM
One of the PLUARG reports involved a survey of Ontario
farmers and their attitudes towards the relation of agriculture
and water pollution. Although it noted many farmers are
engaged in some form of soil conservation practice, it added
lack of awareness remained a central difficulty.
"The results of the PLUARG survey," says the report,
"clearly demonstrates the wide gap between identification of the
problem and general awareness of the problem which existed in
the summer of 1977 and which is only beginning to close. To
attempt to implement a program of remedial measures in
agriculture before more farmers are more fully aware would
engender more resistance than cooperation."
In light of the fact that cropland is a major nonpoint
contributor to water pollution, the numerical results of one of the
PLUARG surveys makes a striking contrast.
In response to a question concerning agriculture's contribution
54.4 per cent felt it was only to a minor extent, 25.1 per cent
replied it made none at all and 11.3 did not know. Only 6.7 per
cent saw the contribution as considerable and 1.8 per cent
thought it was very great.
The stark reality of these figures illustrated the importance of
Conservation authorities have been active In fighting erosion
problems. In this Instance, the shoreline leading to the bridge
has been reinforced with steel sheets driven Into the ground.
(Photo by Shoveller)
first making the farming community aware of the issue. That is a
long term and formidable task in some cases.
"You have a meeting, and there are 2000 farmers in Perth
county, and maybe 50 people show up," says Feldman, "and
they would have gone anyway. If you are interested in a problem
yourself, you're the one who looks out for it."
McIntosh has similar feelings, although he is more optimistic.
"I wouldn't think there's too much awareness of it," he says.
"But the soil and crop improvement associations and the federal
and provincial agricultural departments are getting involved, so
public awareness is beginning to grow."
Feldman doesn't think farmers will like the term, but
education. or as he prefers, information, is needed in the farm
community. That is Mclntosh's contention. and he mentions that
Better erosion control is coming
agricultural schools in Guelph and Ridgetown are the ideal
places to start.
Pat Lynch, a soil and crop specialist with the Ministry of
Agriculture in Stratford, says the movement towards better
erosion control measures is beginning to come. He says bus trips
for farmers to view land conservation sites are being planned,
conservation authorities are actively involved, "but the biggest
thing," he says, "is people are beginning to talk about it."
It's been two years almost since PLUARG wrapped up its
formal work. Its final phase was a series of public information
meetings to give people a chance to hear their recommendations
and voice their own concerns. During those two yearsLynch has
seen the awareness begin to develop.
The main source of agriculture's contribution is, it seems,
some form of erosion, be it wind or rain. A wide range of waste
from farming activities, from particles of chemical to natural
fertilizers, become attached to bits of soil and are carried by the
wind or water runoff. A great deal of this waste finds its way to
the water system.
People like Hans Feldman and Jim McIntosh know erosion can
never be completely avoided, but they also know about a variety
of ways to minimize it. These constitute one of two important
steps to cutting back on pollution from agriculture. The second
requires greater scrutiny from farmers of what they put on their
fields.
One of the problems with agricultural erosion is that it is
almost by definition a slow, gradual process, whose progression
is difficult to assess. In time, however, its results become visible.
Feldman admits his primary interest is in erosion, and that its
relation to pollution is something to which he has not devoted as
much time.
"I don't think most of the pollution gets to the rivers," he
says. "There is usually swampland on either side of the
watersheds. and there is usually silt deposited there."
PG. 4 THE RURAL VOICE/AUGUST 1980