The Rural Voice, 1980-08, Page 7But while most of the eroded soil may be caught it is not as
likely that the waste material transported to the water with it has
been held up. The need for controlling measures is everpresent.
There are number of techniques that can be used to hinder the
erosion process, and many farmers are familiar with them and
use them. Windbreaks are one course that can be taken, and the
tree -lined barriers are familiar sights in rural areas.
There are other natural courses that can be taken to head off
erosion.
"When grain land is open, from late August to September,
you plant a cover crop," says Feldman, "That prevents erosion
and improves land quality."
Besides taking steps to ease the erosion of land with crops and
planting, one of PLUARG's concerns is with ploughing fields too
close to the edge of open waterways. This was another question
in the PLUARG survey, as they sought to determine to what
extent farmers were cultivating close to drainage areas. They
found 73 per cent of farmers with waterways on their property
were ploughing within 20 feet of the drainage spot.
The report considered this result serious, "given that the
closer cultivation is carried out to a watercourse the greater is the
likelihood that detached soil particles will be carried to receiving
waters."
ECONOMIC INCENTIVES
The report continues later: "Certainly an intensive program of
farmer education concerning the HAA (hydrologically active
areas) will be necessary, coupled with a program of economic
incentives to encourage farmers to return this cultivated land
close to streams and ditches to uses where soil disturbance is
minimized."
Another of the PLUARG suggestions was zero tillage, and it
noted the practice has been successful in parts of the United
States. However, neither Feldman nor McIntosh think it could
be successful in this part of the country.
McIntosh points out that southwestern Ontario soil is different
from that where zero tillage has worked.
"If you have sandy soil you can do it," he says, "but if you
have zero tillage, you need more fertilizer, herbicide and
insecticide patrols."
per cent of Ontario farmers do spread some of their manure on
frozen land. The report notes that the practice is harmful to the
water system and also is of no benefit to the farmer.
"Nutrients in this manure may be either volatized or carried
off in runoff during periods of snowmelt," it says. "This
situation not only results in degraded water quality but also in a
loss of nutrients to the farm operation."
In at least one instance the Ontario government, in newspaper
promotions, encouraged better care and usage of manure by
emphasizing that manure was an agricultural asset that
shouldn't be wasted.
GETTING RID OF MANURE
"We tend to think in terms of getting rid of manure," says
Feldman, "rather than fertilizing our fields."
The work and time outlay involved in soil conservation and
anti -pollution advances is undoubtedly a long term project, and
the fact that the IJC or PLUARG have no political clout won't
speed the process.
"The problem with the UC is they have no power at all," says
McIntosh." They do research into what exists, and they have two
national, and several state and provincial governments to deal
with.
"The LNC should be more politically active, perhaps with
lobbying groups. Press releases just end up in the garbage."
Another factor inhibiting a speedier improvement has to do
with the nature of the farming industry. By definition, its
participants are spread out, and aside from federations, for
example, it has no concentration of power. That makes the
distribution of information, and defending themselves politically
more complicated.
"Because farmers are a more diverse group," says McIntosh,
"governments can pass legislation which affects agriculture
easily. Now the Ontario Federation of Agriculture is acting as a
watchdog for interests involved with agriculture."
Inevitably portions of the farm community are going to be
skeptical of the findings of reports such as that of PLUARG, and
Feldman notes that it may be justified.
"It's government," he says. "For example, paving over
"Pollution is ... a political football .. .
sometimes farming is used as a scapegoat."
"You have to kill vegetation with herbicides, and that leaves
plant residue," says Feldman. "That's self defeating, and zero
tillage causes yield drops. Farmers would love not to have to
till."
Another of PLUARG's concerns is the spreading of fertilizer
and manure on frozen fields. Feldman suggests the practice is
simply a lack of common sense.
"You have to utilize manure instead of buying fertilizer'," he
says. "To get its value, you've got to incorporate it with the soil
and at the right time; you don't waste it by using it when the
ground is frozen."
In spite of this, another of the PLUARG studies found that 36
Niagara is OK, but then the government comes and tells us we
have to save land from erosion. That's inconsistent.
"Pollution is more of a political football. I think sometimes
farming is used as a scapegoat."
In the end, it's a problem we all need to be concerned about,
and we need to be willing to cooperate with the remedies.
PLU 1RG discovered in one of their surveys that the majority
of fanners surveyed favoured voluntary efforts from the
agricul ural community to clean up water pollution.
Thv'. was three years ago. An IJC report this year said
regular ons will be needed if voluntary approaches in land use
practices do not improve.
THE RURAL VOICE/AUGUST 1980 PG. 5