The Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-03-18, Page 51Senator, author sp aks t
By David Emslie
CLINTON - "Soil degradation is a serious
national problem, it needs national atten-
tion," said Senator Herbert Sparrow in'
opening his speech at the. Bank of Mon-
treal's First Bank -Agricultural Outlook.
The senator, and three bank represeri'
tatives, were speakers at this agricultural
meeting that was 'held at the Clinton Town
Hall on March 5.
While he noted that most farmers,would
feel that the economy is the most serious
problem facing the agricultural industry, -he
said this problem would hopefully Last only
• -two or three years.
• "Beyond that, the most serious crisis is
soil degradation, our soils are at risk; our
future is eroding," he said. -
- The senator could be termed an expert in
this field as he was on the senate committee
that put together the soil degradation and
conservation study which was published in
the honk Soil At' Risk.
"Soils are at risk
He explained that when this sub commit-
_ tee sits, they meet with anywhere from 30 to
50 farming groups. When the committee
raised the question of whether there was a
problem with•soil degradation with the farm
groups, Senator Sparrow said it was evident
there was a problem.
• In February of 1984 the sub committee got
permission from the Senate to do the study,
and they released it in July of -that year. •
"What we found was the problem was
much more serious than We realized. We
found it was so serious we.couldn't take two
Page 74
farmers on erosion
"Soil de,radation needs
national attention"
or three years to do the study.Ve decided to
work seven days a week to do it, it was that
serious," he said.
• While carrying out the study, the-conunit-
tee foiind there was a great deal of conser-
vation knowledge within the farming com-
munities-, but at the same time there was a
gr -eat deal of frustration because nothing
was being done to save the land.
. The senator stated, "We found the cost of
production -is so high, and the 'returns so low, •
that if a farmer wanted to be a conserva-
tionist he couldn't afford to.'•
Different forms of degradation were
found to take place across Canada. These in-
clude erosion by water and wind, soil com-
paction, salinization -of soil and soil being
ruined or -usecl up through man's expansion
into •farIIllands.
""These forms of erosion I are taking
place- in every community in our nation. 1
could:talk about one form, but here are so
many forms, .we're talking millions of
acres." said Senator Sparrow.
"We owe -the future generations a right to -
a livelihood in this nation. In all of Canada
curly nine per cent of land is suitable for
growth. Hall of • that is suitable fur
agricultural growth," he explained.
The first specific area he touched on was
Atlantic Canada, an area he•described as a
very crucial part of Canada's'agricultural
industry. -
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They started with 18 inches of •top soil. P,
they are down to six inches," he said• adding
that it took_ less than 100 years for this soil to
vanish; -
"Very little is being done about it. The
way they're losing topsoil, they -will lose
agriculture in 30 year s.'All they're going to
have left are rocks.'..
Farrmers in Quebec are losing a large
amount of their soil due to runoff. Because
the soil has been wen worked. it has become
very powdery, and when the rains c'onie it is
being carried off into ,the low lying areas
such ias lakes and streams.
A' study was done by the federal govern-
menf, on these .oils. and if they continue los-
ing thein at the rate they are today . they will
be :;cine In 20 years," said Senator' Sparrow.
Another large problem u1 Quebec is -urban
expansiuui. On this subject the senator ques-
tiongd why 1tu'abel Airport needed 75.000
acre;; of land. He answered his own question
when he said they took the land because
they :thought it was useless.
lire can't afford to lease those farms, we
need those voices, that production." he
pointed out. .
Ontario suffers from many of the erosion
problems. and the province's problems are
exaggerated when it comes to degradation
through urban expansion. .,
"If you look from the CN Tower ci(n a clear
day 3 ou can see 50 per cent of the number
one and number two topsoils." said Senator
Sparrow, "Urban expansion is eating it up
at 26 acres an hour. In less than 10 years we
lose over three -million acres to urban
expansiori-
•'I believe Ontario has only 40 to 50 years
of viable agriculture left if they don't care
for the Iand."
He pointed out that lust looking at one's
own community will not -help the problem as
the nation's agrrcdiltural industry is at
stake.
Senator Sparrow tried to persuade the
gathered farmers ton read the report.
-.Please read the book The methods : of
conservation you do agree with. try to in-
corporate with your play . Talk to v.our
neighbors about it. Soil conservation has to
be a part of it Any one of these issues can
save topsoil 1t you can ,ac e one ton. it's
worth it."
He added that the farriers alone cannot
,hulcier the responsibility of snaking sure
the soil is saved. and the consumer is going
to have to help out through paying higher
prices for goods or higher taxes to the
government so they can help the farmers
out_
-These-soils belong to future generations,
we must be guardians. The consuming •
public has to be spending money or in 30
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