Comments to All Farmers
From:
Grim Farms Inc. - farmer - JWHS(F)
Statement
4/2/2009
since we are all farmers ive noticed that we do share some
similar ideas.but i do feel that
not everyone is aware how costly it is to change our farming
methods.i believe we all need
to step up and ask the gov't to cooperate with us so that we
could possibly get some of the
funds needed so we can do our part to help clean up the Bay.
From:
Grim Farms Inc. - farmer - JWHS(F)
Statement
3/31/2009
ATTENTION FARMERS: please read our ideas and make a statement.
we feel that we have
ideas that are very reasonable and we would like the support of
other farmers
From The
Moderator: 4/3/09.
For many
smaller, family farmers, there are opportunities to
create niche markets like the
Headwater Farms program CI was involved in,
which focused on increasing net profits instead of gross
production. Many farmers worry about gross
production ("I produced 1000 round bales of hay last
year so I did well") instead of profits ("Oops, it cost
me $10 to for every round bale I produced and they are
only worth $9.00"). There are many government
programs that provide the kind of support you request
for stream side activities. One of the best is
USDA-CREP, which you can read about via the "government
programs" link in the "Paying For It" section of the
eForum.
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Farmers
Redneck Yacht Club
Hampshire H.S.
3/13/2009
We are farmers in Hampshire County, West Virginia.
We are very aware of the problems
with the Chesapeake Bay. The environmental problems
affect everyone, including the farmers
in Hampshire County. We understand that we contribute
to this problem, but we would like to
help try to solve this problem. This affects us
negatively also. We lose a lot of soil do to run
off. We have many solutions to this. We are going
to put a fence around our stream bank
so that our livestock will not trample the river banks.
By putting this fence up is also stops the
livestock from overgrazing on protective vegetation
cover. Fencing also allows grasses,
shrubs, and trees to grow into a riparian forest
buffer. In doing this, the river banks will
become more stable. Planting trees and shrubs will help
this process quicker. The riparian
forest buffer will make the water better for the fish
and wildlife. However, fencing is
very expensive. Since we would be helping the water
quality for the people in the Chesapeake
Bay we think that if we put fencings up, then the people
downstream should have to pay a small
tax. This will help to fund the project and can be used
to invest in other Best Management
Practices also. Best Management Practices are way
to help reduce the pollution from
preventable activities. Another B.M.P. that we would do
is erosion and sediment control. By
using a slope drain, we would protect water resources
from sediment pollution. By doing all of
this, we will be helping the Chesapeake Bay instead of
contributing to the problem.
Have a Thoughtful Discussion
Thoughtful
Discussion
From:
Bass Assassians - Waterman - JWHS(T)
Ask
3/19/2009
The watermen and I are thrilled that you have decided to
put up fencing along your river
banks to help the wildlife of the fish and water animals
but we are still wondering what you
are going to do about the problems with fertilizers and
soil getting into the stream. We feel
that a fence will not stop the massive amounts of
fertilizers and soil from runoff into the
rivers?
From:
Bay Huggers - farmer - JWHS(T)
Ask
3/19/2009
you mentioned that you would tax the people downstream
fo helping them. Wy would you do
this when you are the reason for the probems in the
first place?
Response
Redneck Yacht Club - farmer - HHS
3/23/2009
You said that it is stupid that we tax the people
downstream since we are the cause of
the problem. Well then we will just have the beef and
meat that we sell to you all.
Does that sound good to you?
From:
Da ottonos - local_gov - JWHS(T)
Ask
3/20/2009
yes, I agree that fencing is expensive and will help in
some way, but will it help what is
considered the chemical part of the problem, how will
fencing stop the toxic chemical the
constantly run down towards the Chesapeake Bay?
From:
The Black Panthers - farmer - JWHS(T)
Ask
3/20/2009
You could do things to help clean the bay up yourself.
Why put it all on the farmers plate?
From:
Redneck Yacht Club - farmer - HHS
Ask
3/23/2009
Im glad to see that you recognize what you as farmers
are doing to pollute the bay and are
willing to put a fence up to help but why would you tax
other people when you are causing the
problem?
From:
The Rainbow Bunch - developer - JWHS(T)
Ask
3/23/2009
ok well im glad that your going to put up a fence to try
to help the prablem ;but why is that
fence going to stop your cows from taking a crap next to
the fence and all that bad stuff
running down into the river?
From:
YES! - Youth Environmental Stewards - Other - SCHS
Statement
3/23/2009
I agree with The Black Panthers. The Bay is polluted by
other things other then farmers.
Runoff from roads, illegal waste dumps, etc are also
major pollutants. You can't just come out
saying it's only farmers.
From:
Charlie's Critters - Other - JWHS(T)
Ask
3/24/2009
I agree with the Bay huggers! why would you tax someone
else, when your the one casuing
the prob.? you need to find a better solution.
From:
The Black Panthers - farmer - JWHS(T)
Statement
3/24/2009
Find me one farmer who doesn't have his cattle in a
fenced in pasture.........im waiting. Ill be
waiting for awhile because its illegal to not have your
livestock in a fence. Why are we
taxing anyone? What will that do to help. Back in 1993
bill clinton spent 250,000 on pickle
research. That was the biggest of our problems wasn't
it. This year already obama spent
300,000 on 4-wheeler trails. Farmers couldve used that
on buffer zones.
From:
Roy Roy the Water People - Waterman - JWHS(T)
Statement
3/26/2009
I agree with both of the black panther's responses. The
farmers aren't the only people
causing the problem. Everyone is causing it. We all need
to work together to solve these
problems. You should probably try researching your topic
before you write a whole paper on
it.
From:
Charlie's Critters - Other - JWHS(T)
Statement
3/26/2009
I agree with the Bass Assisation!Although it seems like
a good idea with the fence,
fertalizer is still going to run down and pollute our
bay. Therefor, i dont think this idea will
work.
From:
Water Warriors - Waterman - TAHS
Statement
3/27/2009
That is good but I have a good idea for your soil loss.
Why wont you try another BMP
and do a cover crop. The riparian buffers and the
riparian forest is good but it wont
help with the soil. There is also another BMP that will
work is a windbreaker. To block
some of the wind which is a factor of soil erosion.
From:
j. bunnies - local_gov - JWHS(T)
Statement
3/30/2009
Its a good idea to put fencing up. You could use
recyclable materials on the fence so that its
environmentally safe
From:
DD Farms - farmer - MsHS
Ask
3/31/2009
From The DD Farms What types of fences Would you put
up to stop the runoff? You did
not put the type. I think you should put up silt fence
at the bottom of the fence that would
stop the run off.
From:
tourism and recreation klan - recreation - JWHS(T)
Statement
4/1/2009
I agree with what you are trying to do. Great comment
From:
Charlie's Critters - Other - JWHS(T)
Ask
4/2/2009
It is a good plan to install fencing, but isn't there
another option that could work better and
be more less costly?
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Farmers
farmers
Hampshire H.S.
3/13/2009
We are farmers. We are important because feed millions
of people everyday. We also keep
our streams and forests clean. We use more natural
resources then anyone in the United
States. We use chicken manure to makes our fields grow
the best they can.Then we make hay in
the summer.We do this to feed our cows in the winter
time. Then some farmers have dairy
cows. They use the natural milk from the cows for your
cereal, ice cream, and the cheese on
you burgers. Then we keep our streams clean by not
putting fertilizer in out streams. We build
fences to keep the cows out of the streams so they dont
pollute the rivers and streams. Then we
produce corn for food for all sorts of reasons. Some
uses for corn are dog food and gas.We
realize we are some of the problems for pollution. Here
is some ways to solve the problems, we
plow across the hill instead of down hill because when
it rains all the seed and soil go to the
nearest stream and river and pollutes it.Its cheaper to
go up and down with your plows but it
pollutes your streams and rivers. Now we go right and
left on a hillside.It is alittle more money
but doesnt pollute your water on your property. This is
our main reason to keep from polluting
our streams, rivers and nearby lakes and ponds.
Have a Thoughtful Discussion
Thoughtful
Discussion
From:
highland homeowners - homeowner - HHS
Ask
3/18/2009
you guys say that you sre keeping your rivers
clean,but if that was the case then there
wouldnt be any pestisides or things like that in the
water. Since what you are doing isn't
working what are you going to do to make it better?
From:
Awesome - Waterman - NHHS
Ask
3/19/2009
You explained how you put fences around your streams
so the cows and other animals don't
pollute the streams which is good, but not only do
they pollute streams they erode them from
walking in and out as well. Also how will the
animals have access to water if you have
fencing around the streams and ponds?
Response
farmers - farmer - HHS
3/23/2009
There is going to be a fence around your rivers,
ponds, and streams. So how are they
going to get in the waters to erode them and
pollute in them. The way the live stock
is going to get water is by spring in the field.
The water comes out of under ground
streams. So that is how they are going to get water
without polluting the fresh water.
From:
The Rainbow Bunch - developer - JWHS(T)
Ask
3/23/2009
By using chicken manure to fertilize the fields
doesn't that eventually cause more pollution
to the rivers and streams? Building fences is fine
to keep out livestock, but what will you do
with the waste they produce?
From:
Bay Huggers - farmer - JWHS(T)
Ask
3/23/2009
There is still going to be pollution in the water no
matter what you try to do to prevent it. The
farms could play a roll in cleaning up by using
other methods but you cant blame it solely on
the farmers.
Response
farmers - farmer - HHS
4/3/2009
It could cause more pollution but we plow our fields
across to prevent the manure
from running into are streams. The manure our
livestock produce will go to are fields
to fertalize are crops.
From:
We Run At Night - farmer - BHS
Ask
3/30/2009
You say that plowing the fields a different way will
cost a little more money. What if certain
farmers can't pay the "little extra money"? How
will you get them to convert to the new
ways?
The Moderator says: Very Good Question!!!!
Response
farmers - farmer - HHS
4/3/2009
That is a good question. They could come look at our
farms cause we make a little
profit. And all of our soil stays where its supposed
to be on our fields. And it all
depends on good or bad your soil is too.
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Farmers
Captain
Planet. He's Our Hero.
Gonzaga College H.S.
3/15/2009
Far too often, the US farming
industry is made out to be an evil organization filled
with cut-throat producers who are willing to destroy any
obstacle in their path to financial success (even if
such an obstacle is a valuables natural resource like
the Chesapeake Bay). Such a thought process is
untenable; we as farmers need this planet and wish to
maximize the resources it has to offer in an efficient
and sustainable manner. Unfortunately, the demand for
our products is so great that we often fall to the
temptations of overproduction or using ecologically
harmful methods. We wish to avert such actions as much
as any environmentally friendly individual wishes us
to. We simply aks that our side of the story is heard,
and that the solutions we propose are the given the
consideration that they deserve.
The United States depends upon the large number of
farmed produced crops to feed the ever-growing number of
people in our country. The agricultural industry is a
very competitive one in our country because of the many
“corporate farms” that are becoming more and more
frequent. These new types of farms enable corporations
to mass produce crops that are needed to feed the many
people in our country and even with this type of large
scale production we still do not have enough food. For
these types of farms to stop using certain types of
pesticides and change the way they farm would help the
environment or the waterways near them, but it would
decrease there production which we, the farmers, simply
cannot afford to do. Also, if the smaller farms decided
to start using less pesticides and change the way they
farm they would simply make no profit and be run out of
business by these larger corporate farms. The fact of
the matter is that the large farms will not submit to
help the cause of decreasing pollution in water ways
without strong incentives and the smaller farms can not
afford to or they will not exist. A large number of
people are dependent on the crop production of the
United States, and if anything were to affect this, many
people would suffer.
Farming is vital to our countries survival and
progression. We provide the food that moves our nation,
but we understand that some of our practices can pollute
and harm the environment. Now many people say that we do
not care about this problem but in reality we are hurt
as well. The soil erosion takes away from the healthy
useable soil available to us, which prevents us from
producing the maximum potential of crops. There are many
solutions to this problem. One of the most effective and
easiest solutions is to build 35 feet buffers along the
stream. This would absorb most of the run off from
pesticides and fertilizers before it enters into the
streams and rivers. Also this would help prevent soil
erosion. The more plants that are planted along the
stream banks the more firmly the soil will be help in
place. This would prevent the top soil from being washed
away in the rain. The reason why these buffer zones
aren’t put in place yet because we lose soil that was
once used for crops, which in return means that we lose
profits. We need more reasons why we should put these
into practice as you will read shortly because why
should we be forced to take on this burden by ourselves.
We, the farmers, stand at an interesting place in this
situation. Understandably we contribute to the problems
the Bay is facing and we do want to help. The issue is
the fact that being a farmer in this day and age is not
entirely easy. Within our current means we do not have
much fiscal wiggle room to make adjustments that could
help the Bay situation. Potential courses of action
include planting stream buffers(as mentioned before) and
cover crops. These things would not be very costly if
the taxpayers would help us. Clearly, these measures
would benefit everyone. While we want to start this
process, we also need to look out for our livelihood.
Seeing as we simply can’t raise our prices to pay for
this, incentives for implementing programs like this
would a necessity. Not only would they be enormously
helpful and inexpensive compared to future mass clean-up
efforts, but also the results would great and long
lasting. We are willing to do this; we just can’t right
now without putting our farms in jeopardy. We would
appreciate some financial help.
While the benefits to restoring the Chesapeake Bay
watershed rewarding, it must be understood that the
methods by which we achieve such benefits could be
damaging to farmers. The farming industry could be
ruined if the new changes to the way we defend our crops
are not properly thought out. New, more natural ways of
fighting off pests are something to strive for, but what
must be taken into consideration is the rate at which
these new approaches impact the crops. If the new
solution to preventing harmful organisms from getting to
the plants is slow and tedious, the production rate of
our farms will go down, causing us to lose money, and
possibly our jobs. If farmers cannot keep up a steady
pace of producing crops because they are too busy
spreading natural pesticides or performing other actions
to protect the crop, our business fails. If the farming
industry on the east coast fails, that would be
disastrous to the already flailing economy. Farming in
the west would endure an exhausting and unattainable new
level of demand. Even with the west shipping food to the
east, there would still be a drop in food supply. More
importantly, the present state of the economy could not
take such a blow like losing the farming industry. While
people have cut back on certain luxuries and the price
of food has gone up, the one thing people still buy
because it is a necessity is produce.
Just as a great hero named Captain Planet combined the
forces of earth, wind, fire, water, and heart to fight
against the dastardly actions of those individuals
attempting to destroy the environment, so must we, not
just farmers, but homeowners, developers, and waterman
work together to keep our the Bay from deteriorating.
We have shown that farming is a competitive industry
that must sometimes utilize environmentally unethical
practices; however, we have also stressed just how much
we value the naturally resources that we have been given
and have backed up this up by offering potential
solutions to our problems. Each of the aforementioned
groups has its own reasons for using harmful methods
just as we have used; however, we hope that each of
these groups is also as dedicated as we are to putting
an end to our destructive ways. We, as farmers, are
willing to step up to the environmental challenge that
has been posed to us. The question that we pose to the
rest of the stakeholders is “Are you willing to do so as
well?” The only addition that is needed for this
penultimate inquiry comes from the same hero that was
just mentioned. And that is the responsibility, the
tenacity, and the power for such an action requires is
yours.
Have a Thoughtful Discussion
Thoughtful
Discussion
From The
Moderator: 4/3/09.
Excellent POV.
I could quibble about some of your points, but overall
it is very well thought out. You talk quite a bit
about the need to keep production high (which is sadly
true for corporate farming). However, for many
smaller, family farmers, there are opportunities to
create niche markets like the
Headwater Farms program CI was involved in,
which focused on increasing net profits instead of gross
production. Many farmers worry about gross
production ("I produced 1000 round bales of hay last
year so I did well") instead of profits ("Oops, it cost
me $10 to for every round bale I produced and they are
only worth $9.00"). There are many government
programs that provide the kind of support you request
for stream side activities. One of the best is
CREP, which you can read about via the "government
programs" link in the "Paying For It" section of the
eForum.
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Farmers
the Wetnecks
Hampshire H.S.
3/16/2009
Hello,
We are the farmers at Hampshire High School. We are
writing to tell you how the environment and things
change and effect the life of us as farmers. We answered
some questions on how this affects us. So with at here
are the questions and answers that we came up with.
Will the "cost" you in any demonstrable way? Yes,
it will cost us a lot to put in
stream stoppers. We will have to get the materials and
supplies to make the stream stoppers.
Also this will take money, time, and a lot of space away
from the river for cattle and/or other
farming things.
Will the solutions benefit you directly? No, the
solutions will not benefit us
directly. The environment will change slowly. After it
starts to effect and change the
environment it will change us. This will be a slow and
steady process. As well as changing the
environment it will change the effect on having to spend
money to fix the pollution that was
once coming into the farm. Which will lead us into the
next question?
What could be done to make your group become more
willing to participate? Things that could help us become
more willing to participate are, activities that deal
with farming that are fun. Things that could show us how
to save money. Also that if the government would give
us government funding to help us pay for the supplies
and things that are needed to complete this task.
Leading us into the next topic question.
How could the solutions be structured so your group
would prosper as a result?If we would prosper we would
get paid for cleaning up our stream and helping clean up
the bay. Also it makes the world that we are living in a
much better place to live in.
So now you know the many things that can help the
land that we are farming and the areas surrounding it.
Thank you
Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond
Thoughtful
Questions
From:
tourism and recreation klan - recreation - JWHS(T)
Ask
3/19/2009
How are you planning on paying for these stream stoppers
that might only help certain parts
of the streams
Response
the Wetnecks - farmer - HHS
3/26/2009
Well we were goin to get government grants to pay for
them.
From:
Bass Assassians - Waterman - JWHS(T)
Ask
3/23/2009
you might want to stop and think will this stream
stopper really help i dont think thats is going
to help.
Response
the Wetnecks - farmer - HHS
3/26/2009
When we meant strem stoppers, we meant to put in buffer
zones.
From:
The Rainbow Bunch - developer - JWHS(T)
Ask
3/23/2009
Aren't their other solutions other than stream stoppers?
I also don't think that you should be
paid to clean up the bay. Other groups aren't being paid
to do so, so why should you?
Response
the Wetnecks - farmer - HHS
3/26/2009
Well i think that it is the cheapest solution. And we
all should be paid for takin our
time to put in the stream stoppers. FIRE UP THE
DIESELS!!!
From:
The Rainbow Bunch - developer - JWHS(T)
Ask
4/1/2009
Okay, but where are you going to get the money to pay
all of the groups for cleaning up the
streams? I don't really think that at this point in time
the goverenment will be very willing to
deal out the money to do this.
Response
the Wetnecks - farmer - HHS
4/3/2009
Well the other members in my group think that they
should be paid for every thing
they do. Being the only female i see it different. We
are willin to make any changes
that need to be done with out pay. Yes there are other
ways to help the bay. Although
the boys think that, that is the only way to help it but
there are more.I am willing and
will talk to the boys and they will become willing to
help clean up the bay and not be
paid. I will tell them that it will help there community
service. thank you for
commenting on there none commmon sense.
From:
Charlie's Critters - Other - JWHS(T)
Ask
4/2/2009
hello. you said that your solution would cost a lot of
money, but can you explain how your
going to get the money exactly?
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Farmers
minnix farm
Riverheads H.S.
3/16/2009
I am currently a farmer and I am worried about the
bay’s problems. For some of the solutions I am fencing
off the rivers from the cattle so they don’t pollute the
river. On the inside of the fence next to the river I
will plant grass. Then I will be putting down shrubs and
bushes for better soil. After a few years I will plant
trees because the roots will hold the ground together
better. To not cause run off I will put up cover crops
around the rivers. The fencing will cost money but not
much. The grass won’t cost much and the shrubs will cost
a little. But the trees will be the most expensive.
Next I will put grass buffers around the pond to support
the banks around the pond. The solution will benefit me
as a farmer because the cover crop can produce money for
the farm. The cover crop I will be putting down will be
corn. My group is willing to participate because we all
want the bay to be better. My farm will benefit from the
planting of shrubs and trees to make the land around the
rivers and ponds healthy. If I plant and kind of fruit
trees the fruit can be sold or kept for my family.
Although the cost may be a lot I’m going to take the
trees slow and plant only a few at a time so I can use
the money I have very wisely.
Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond
Thoughtful
Questions
From:
Bay Huggers - farmer - JWHS(T)
Ask
3/19/2009
When you said that you were putting fences in the way to
keep your cattle out of the
watershed, did you take into consideration that your
fence could potentially stop more than
just the cattle? What if the fence were to block in and
out wildlife that live and depend on
the watersource for life?
From:
The Rainbow Bunch - developer - JWHS(T)
Ask
3/19/2009
Why dont you just make your cattle a pond ? Then you
wouldnt have to worry about the river
because you fenced it up. Also if you do that then you
wouldnt have to pay for all those
plants and trees.
From:
The Bay Watchers - CBP_Fed - NHHS
Statement
3/19/2009
THANK YOU!!!! We would like you to know how much we
appreciate the time, effort, and
money you are putting into trying to protect the bay
from your farm. We see and understand
your side and agree with you, we hope everything works
out as well as you want it too!
From:
Roy Roy the Water People - Waterman - JWHS(T)
Ask
3/20/2009
The plan you came up with sounds like it will take a lot
of time. How can you fix things and
take less time to do it?
From:
Bass Assassians - Waterman - JWHS(T)
Ask
3/23/2009
by puting up fencing that is not going to change
anything the pollution when a rain comes it
going to wash right down into the bay.
From:
tourism and recreation klan - recreation - JWHS(T)
Ask
3/23/2009
we agree with the rainbow bunch the fence idea sounds
expensive and probably wont work
as well as you want if you have a pond the cows can do
there buisness in it, drowned or
anything else they want in it.
From:
tourism and recreation klan - recreation - JWHS(T)
Statement
3/23/2009
I don't know if u knew but us over in tourism and
recreation help bring in tax dollars for
people like you farmers. By us bringing in tons of
revenue and business to the whole area, we
can tax accomidations for the tourists and redirect the
taxes back into people like farmers
therefore getting more money put back into the
watershed.
From:
The Rainbow Bunch - developer - JWHS(T)
Ask
3/23/2009
You say the people use chemicals on ours plants and
doing other things that hurt our
environment. Though out your pov you didn’t tell the
people what we can do to help stop it but
still use chemicals that are need to get the job done.
From:
YES! - Youth Environmental Stewards - Other - SCHS
Ask
3/23/2009
It’s great that you are trying to keep your cattle out
of the stream and your building buffers
to keep the stream clean, but when your farming your
corn you also need to remember to use
good farming practices such as no till farming and
contour foarming to also keep your
stream clean.
From:
j. bunnies - local_gov - JWHS(T)
Statement
3/30/2009
if you buy the seeds it will cost less than just buying
the plants. Also we could use volunteers
to plant them.
From:
County of Talbot - local_gov - JWHS(F)
Ask
3/31/2009
Thanks for understanding the importance of the bays
health. The bay huggers made a
statement that your fence could keep in and out
wildlife. We're not sure what kind of fence
that they are talking about as you would have to build a
metal dome around the length of the
river. The fence that your talking about is a good idea
and so is your buffers.
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Farmers
Riverbend Farms
Riverheads H.S.
3/16/2009
In our area, protection of our water resources is a
must. Owning a farm in the Chesapeake Bay watershed
means that management of wastes and nutrients is an
important aspect of my business. Excess nutrients such
as nitrogen run off into streams and rivers or seep
through the soil into the water system. This leeching is
usually a result from over-application of poultry and
dairy manure rich in nitrogen that are spread onto
farmland. Therefore, the amount of fertilizer that I put
onto my fields must be limited and properly managed. As
for my farm, I am registered with the Virginia
Department of Conservation and Recreation, where I have
a nutrient management plan set up to protect the water
that flows through my land. I currently use a
combination of cover crops and grass barriers to filter
out and absorb excess nitrogen that may run off with
rain. The use of cover crops also helps reduce the
amount of soil erosion, which is another main concern of
the Chesapeake Bay. Almost all of the streams on my
property are fenced off from my cattle so manure cannot
directly enter the water. These practices have proved
very effective, as the nitrogen and phosphorous levels
of the water have dropped significantly on my land.
These techniques have their price, but the State of
Virginia has given me grant money to help ease the cost
on my business. However, I feel that I should do this
because what I do effects me directly, as I draw my tap
water from a well. But excess nutrients in the Bay
watershed remains an issue as many farmers are not
registered with DCR, and the spreading of fertilizers
continues to go unchecked across the state. I am
contacting my local congressman to try to pass
legislation to require farmers to start better
management practices.
Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond
Thoughtful
Questions
From:
Farmers of TAHS - farmer - TAHS
Ask
3/27/2009
This is great that you are using all of these BMPs but
what is your actual plan for
decreasing pollution in the Chesapeake Bay from an
omniscient perspective? How do you
propose influencing other farmers to act as you do in
order to decrease the amount of
nutrients escaping into the rivers and streams?
From:
Fun in the Bay - recreation - GCHS
Ask
4/1/2009
You have very good ideas and I am glad you are taking
some kind of initiative. I was
wondering with all of these processes you are taking, do
you require or want more subsidies
or some kind of tax break? Overall very effective and
great work.
From:
j. bunnies - local_gov - JWHS(T)
Statement
4/7/2009
You are doing a great job applying yourself to what you
believe in. Its easy for me to
understand where you are coming from also living on a
large scale farming operation. Your
plan seems to be very well thought out and is apparently
doing a good job. Also you should be
commended for your efforts on trying to work with
congress to improve our community and
way of life.
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|
Farmers
Bay Huggers
James Wood H.S.- Takarsh
3/17/2009
Hello, I am an Organic farmer living on the
Chesapeake Bay. I farm corn, tomatoes, watermelon,
potatoes, beans, and peppers. I sell my crops to local
farm markets and grocery
stores. I am working very hard to keep my farm afloat in
this very rough economy without
making a lot of cuts. When I noticed that the bay was
unsanitary I thought first it was the big
company’s dumping nasty waste into the bay. While they
do account for much of the pollution in
the bay farms are contributing too. When I found out
that my farm is also contributing to the
dirty bay I thought I can also do my part in cleaning up
my farm. We have put in a water
irrigation system that uses the runoff from our barns
that directs them into our extra large
Cistern and waters our crops regularly. We are also
recycling the excess runoff water from
our crops and returning it to the cistern for future
use. By recycling water we have cut costs
and saved the bay from excess silt and phosphorus. We
will also use cover crops which are
inexpensive and also very healthy for the bay. These
cover crops in addition with grass
buffers will significantly reduce the runoff into the
bay and also provide new habitats for
local animals. We will use Solar panels on all of our
barns to power our farm day and night. All
of our tractors and vehicles have been converted to
bio-diesel. We are recycling the bio-diesel
from local fast food places and the fuel is free, which
saves us money.
Although we have put some money into our ways to
clean the bay, we have already seen a
difference in the water and also in our bills. We have
taken out loans from a credit union to
pay for these green updates to save the bay. If we,
small farmers, can do this then what is
stopping the big businesses. They make in a day what we
make in our whole life so they too
need to do their part in cleaning up the environment
that we take so much from. By making our
Organic farm also a green farm we have dropped costs and
gotten local publicity for our help
for the bay. We were recently featured in the Washington
Post for our efforts to save the bay
and the economy. Already other farms in the area have
begun cleaning up their farms too, and
we are happy to say that the luscious wildlife has
returned in full force. The hunters of birds
and the native wildlife are very happy to have healthy
animals back. By cleaning up our farm
we have helped the environment, the economy, and
recreation and tourism. We have tried very
hard to do our part in the cleaning up the bay, is there
anything else we can do to help the
environment and economy?
Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond
Thoughtful
Questions
From:
Night Lights Gas Co. - Other - BHS
Statement
3/30/2009
I'm glad to see a farmer care so much about the
Chesapeake Bay. I think your actions are
what more farmers need to do to help clean up our bay.
Great job.
From:
Bayside Bros - CBP_Fed - GCHS
Ask
4/5/2009
We applaud your efforts to clean up your farm and the
environment around it, but how much
will this cost? How big will the loans have to be?
Response
Bay Huggers - farmer - JWHS(T)
4/16/2009
Well these are small changes and conversions so they
would not be huge loans. We
don’t want to dig ourselves in a lot of debt that we
couldn’t pay off in this tough
economy. The loan would be under 10,000 for sure. With
summer fast approaching
and our name becoming better known because of our
efforts to go green and we have
increased business already. With everyone wanting to go
green our Organic farm is
becoming more and more popular and necessary. Thank you
for your insightful
question and I hope we answered your question.
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Farmers
Food Chain Captains
Luray H.S. - Judd
3/17/2009
In this country, farming has been perhaps the
oldest occupation and the most important career.
People cannot function without food. To continue
farming, we have to keep our costs low to
increase our profit margins. Unfortunately, farmers are
being squeezed now more than ever.
Operating costs continue to soar. Part of these costs
are due to regulations passed by either
state or local governments. With the increased costs,
farmers have to pass these costs along to
the consumer. Farmers want to preserve land because it
is in their best interests. One problem
farmers face is the requirement to fence streams. Who
installs the fence and who pays for it?
What happens if the fence is washed out in a flood?
Who pays for the reinstallation? Are
farmers held liable if someone is injured while
installing the fence?
I believe farmers were the first
environmentalists. People should remember that any
regulation not only affects farmers, but also you. It
is a fact that homeowners are polluters
also since the amount of chemicals they put on their
lawns and gardens are greater per acre
than farmers use.
Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond
Thoughtful
Questions
From:
Redneck Yacht Club - farmer - HHS
Ask
3/18/2009
So what exactly are you going to do about cleaning up
the streams? You say absolutely
nothing about installing anything to help it. It is
farmers like you that are try to do it the
old way that messed the bay up in the first place and
now we have to fix your problems.
Response
Food Chain Captains - farmer - LHS(J)
3/19/2009
In order to fix any problems with the bay, you have
to have 100% cooperation
within the watershed. Maybe a study needs to be done
about runoff from cities or
any metropolitan area. How are you planning to control
stormwater runoff from
these areas? Farmers are not the only problem and not
the only solution. Are people
willing to pay increased taxes to clean up the bay, and
if so, how much?
There are many ways farmers can help improve water
quality. The first is to have
Riparian Buffer Zones near streams. Again, who pays
for the cost of this
excercise? Costs faced will be fencing, labor, and the
loss of land when it is taken
out of production. We will comply if the cost is
deferred. Secondly, we would be
willing to put land located along streams or rivers
under programs such as transfer of
development rights or conservation easements. This
would lower our tax base, but
the money would have to come from local governments
since our land would be worth
less. Are you willing to write a check for the amount
needed to put our land in some
type of conservation district?
From:
Bay Huggers - farmer - JWHS(T)
Ask
3/19/2009
I will start out by saying that i do agree that the cost
of farming has increased in the past
few years. HOWEVER arguing that a farm and a normal
house and the surounding land are
equal is a very incorrect statement in my eyes. A house
hold will use POUNDS of fertilizer
per year to keep grass green If they use it at all .
Farms on the otherhand use TONS of
fertilizer SEVERAL times a year. Also Speaking on the
need to build, repair and replace
fences, and the cost of them. You are resposible for the
building and replacing them, and if
someone gets hurt building a fence it would be handled
the same as if someone was hurt
doing any other job on your farm. The honest truth is
that maybe the way you run your farm
its not possible to create a profit, maybe you would be
better off selling your bussiness to a
farmer who is turning a profit while helping the
ecosystem all the same
From:
The Bay Watchers - CBP_Fed - NHHS
Ask
3/19/2009
We agree with the Redneck Yacht Club. You have made some
good points, but what do you
exactly plan on doing to try and clean up our streams?
No solution is mentioned in your POV
and i thihk that should have been your main topic to
discuss.
From:
Fresh to the Death Farmers - farmer - SCHS
Statement
3/24/2009
I have to agree with the food chain captains. You need
to consider the financial situation of
farmers especially in today's economy. It's hard enough
to make a living without added
rules and regulations that require time and money. We
need to find cheap, effective ways to
to help these farmers help you. Find a reason for
landlocked people to care about your bay.
You're going to need more than telling us it's the right
thing to do, and we need to do it. Why
don't you Bay Watchers "thihk" about that.
From:
Bass Assassians - Waterman - JWHS(T)
Statement
3/23/2009
The sate and local governments should be passing all
these regulations. It’s costing the
farmers as you said to raise their prices and so the
cost of the product will be raised too the
buyers. Homeowners shouldn’t use chemicals as much, or
they should use none at all. Who
does pay for all the fences? The state and local
government should since it’s a requirement
to fence streams. If they need to be repaired or etc
then the state and local government
should pay for that as well. Farmers shouldn’t have to
use any money out of their pocket to
repair these fences and etc.
From:
ETphonehomeowners - homeowner - HHS
Ask
3/23/2009
you didn't mention anything about what your going to do
all you've done is complain about
fencing costs and possibilities of things that may
occur.
From:
j. bunnies - local_gov - JWHS(T)
Statement
3/30/2009
I think that if we can make farming more efficient and
produce less pollution than it can be
more environmental friendly, thus costing farmers less
money and consumers less money.
From:
tourism and recreation klan - recreation - JWHS(T)
Ask
4/1/2009
so by going back to not having fenced streams is better?
i doubt that highly, and what are
you going to do to help the streams then if you want to
complain about fencing in the streams
then obviously you dont want to help the bay at all and
just care about yourselves. its not the
citzens that live near the streams and are polluting
them that way its you.
From:
The Black Panthers - farmer - JWHS(T)
Statement
4/2/2009
how can you say its all the farmers fault? do you have
proof?
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|
Farmers
The Black Panthers
James Wood H.S.- Takarsh
3/18/2009
Do you like your fruits and vegetables to be
covered with bugs? That’s what would happen
if we stopped using pesticides. However, if we keep
using pesticides, then more fish might die.
Either way, if we remain one sided we will have to live
with life’s little imperfections. Unless,
we reduce some of these imperfections by meeting
somewhere in the middle, by this we mean,
everyone is responsible for pollution. How can someone
go and point fingers at the one
business that keeps people from starving to death.
People cause more pollution by talking crap
about farming than farming it self.
If you look at the true facts about pollution in
the Chesapeake Bay, it will show that farming doesn’t
even supply half of all the pollution. Studies show that
farming supplied the bay with only 40% of all nitrogen,
45% of all phosphorus, and 62% of all sediment deposits.
That’s a combination of all farms both cattle and
horticultural. Although a common farming myth about
needing more phosphorus to help with reproduction has
been debunked, farmers are still feeding the cattle
phosphorus enriched feed. So as for the phosphorus
levels, those can be lowered by nearly half. Nitrogen,
however, is a different story.
We can build buffer zones to prevent the flow
of feces to the rivers and streams, but
that doesn’t solve half our problems. People are just
looking for someone to blame and
unfortunately they blame the farmers.
Let’s pause for a moment and imagine a life
without pesticides. All the fruits and vegetables would
be smaller, and the farmer would lose a lot of crops to
bugs and disease. However, we can control the use of it
so it isn’t wasted and to reduce the run off of
pesticides into the streams and rivers. So this can be a
win-win situation, people just have to be willing to
reach that kind of agreement.
Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond
Thoughtful
Questions
From:
Food Chain Captains - farmer - LHS(J)
Ask
3/19/2009
Years ago, Meryll Streep (the actor) stated to Congress
"Alar" (excuse spelling), a chemical
used in the fruit industry, was so harmful that kids
were dying. Years later, it was proven to
be false. I agree with you that there is a middle
ground, and I don't think farmers have to be
the only solution. How do you feel about private
property rights? I am afraid that if we
start allowing government officials on our land, they
won't know when to stop.
Response
The Black Panthers - farmer - JWHS(T)
3/24/2009
i feel that private property rights are great as long as
the government doesnt try and
overrule those rights just because they have power.
From:
The Bay Ecosystem Group - CB_Ecosystem - HHS
Statement
3/20/2009
Farming is responsible for 40% of all nitrogen depostis,
45% of all phosphorus depsoits, and
62% of all sediment deposits. Yes we can reduce the
outputs but only 1 of the 3 will solve
most of the problem.
From:
RecreationA - recreation - HHS
Statement
3/23/2009
Your animals are polluting the stream by putting their
waste and eroding the banks by the
stream. You are also over fertilizing your crops which
are running off into the stream. If
you have fences they are not working.
Response
The Black Panthers - farmer - JWHS(T)
3/24/2009
if our animals are polluting the waters then why are
people using manure from cows
or chickens to fertilize their crops, grass, and
flowers? Metaphorically speaking
you are biting the hand that feeds you. Even if we
place a pasture a mile away from
the stream, the nitrogen and phosphorus from the manure
will wash down into the
stream. Are you willing to spend your tax money to help
us build buffer zones?
From:
Roy Roy the Water People - Waterman - JWHS(T)
Statement
3/26/2009
You contradicted yourself in your paper. You said that
when you use pesticides, you kill fish
and without pesticides our food is covered with bugs.
People can live without certain foods.
It's not life or death. Organic farming would be a
better answer to all of your problems.
Response
The Black Panthers - farmer - JWHS(T)
3/31/2009
The point of our contradicting ourselves was to prove
that although pesticides are
bad, in a sense we need them. Organic foods are smaller
than those treated with
pesticides. The farmer also loses more crops to bugs and
other animals if we dont use
pesticides.
From:
We Run At Night - farmer - BHS
Ask
3/31/2009
Doesn't manure from livestock (namely cattle and
poultry) have to go somewhere? If you
don't want to put it on the fields, what are you going
to do with it? Sure, you can store it in
concrete manure pits, but it doesn't do any good. The
problem is not the manure that is used
as fertilizer, the problem is that many farmers apply
too much manure or apply manure and
fertilizer that they bought from a factory. We need
fertilizers for our crops, but the key to
saving the bay is to apply the right amount so that run
off is minimized.
Response
From:
The Black Panthers - farmer - JWHS(T)
Response
4/2/2009
what are we supposed to do with the manure? If we burn
it we get yelled at for polluting. If
we use it for fertilizer we get yelled at. And even if
the fences are tip top shape, the
nitrogen in the manure gets to the rivers by rain. The
rain washes it down to the rivers and
streams. There is no pleasing you people is there? Can
you prove that we are the biggest
pollution cause? I can prove that we aren’t. Farmers are
responsible for 40% of all nitrogen
deposits, 45% of all phosphorus deposits, and 62% of all
sediment deposits. Point
made……….we aren’t responsible for half of all the
pollution
From:
The Billy's Homeowners - homeowner - JWHS(F)
Ask
4/6/2009
Do you realize that 40% of all nitrogen, 45% of all
phosphorus, and 62% of all sediment
deposits is out of 6 groups? Now it may not be half but
it is a majority of all of the pollution.
You DO contribute the most out of all of the pullution.
Response
The Black Panthers - farmer - JWHS(T)
4/8/2009
that is partially true, but the other 5 groups are
responsible for the other 60% of the
nitrogen, 55% of the phosporus and the other 48% of the
sediments. If we had a way
to completly decimate all of the pollution we cause then
it still wouldnt solve even
most of the problems. We cant stop all the nitrogen from
the manure from getting to
the streams. We need pesticides to keep bugs from
destroying all of our crops.
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Farmers
The dukes of hazzard
Luray H.S. - Judd
3/18/2009
We are the farmers of Page County. We are very well
aware of the issues of the Chesapeake
Bay. I think there is alot that we can do to help this
problem and yes famers do cause some of
the problems, but the homeowners are something we need
to include in any new environmental
regulations. They go out and buy all this manure for
their "flower gardens" and "veggie
gardens", they throw their trash out in their yards and
out on the roads. We feed people all
throughout the world. We provide meat, veggies, and
other commodities. Most us farmers have
fences to keep our cows, horses, and everthing else out
of our rivers to prevent less pollution,
and make for a healthier world. We need to go out and
clean up our town, and take a more
responsible role in our community. We buy our supplies
for our fences and we use all kinds of
money for all our important needs, so if people have a
problem with the things we do, maybe
they should put out some money and live a few week in
our boots. Don't bite the hand that
feeds you.
Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond
Thoughtful
Questions
From:
tourism and recreation klan - recreation - JWHS(T)
Ask
3/19/2009
1. how does slandering homeowners in the bay area
accomplish anything?
2. farmers cause most of the polution from the animals
on their lands
3. anyone can provide meat its called hunting, and grow
their own vegetables as well
4. and lastly you care more about yourselves and how
your not a big issue in the bay then the
bay its self.
From:
Grim Farms Inc. - farmer - JWHS(F)
Statement
3/24/2009
tourism and recreation klan: you made a response to the
dukes of hazzard from luray and i
have found myself on the opposite end of your opinion
1. you asked what does slandering
homeowners accomplish? i dont believe this group was
"slandering" in any sense of the
word. they were stating that the common
person/homeowner feels they have little impact on
the chesapeake bay itself, resulting in their careless
actions such as litering. have you seen
the excessive amounts of trash along the highway? the
majority of that is being produced by
the common person, otherwise known as the homeowner
2.you also made a point that
farmers cause the most pollution, and as a farmer i know
this couldnt be farther from the
truth 3.you stated your opionion about hunting: some
people feel very strongly about NOT
hunting so this is NOT an option to reducing pollution.
over-harvesting of the animals should
have been taken into consideration. 4.it is very
unfortunate that you believe farmers only
care about themselves. as a farmer i am willing to help
the bay and i do care about the
perspectives of other people. if we only care about
ourselves we wouldnt be producing the
food that feeds nearly every family in our area.
From:
Fresh to the Death Farmers - farmer - SCHS
Statement
3/24/2009
This is in response to "tourism and recreation":#1.
How does slandering farmers upstream
accomplish anything?#2. Doesn't most of the pollution
comes from NONORGANIC
FERTILIZER? #3. The sport is called hunting not
killing. There's no guarantees you will
get meat. Not to mention sustenance hunting would
severly damage the ecosystem. We have
game laws in place for a reason. Plus, not everyone can
grow food and hunt for themselves.
#4. Yes we probobly do. Find a way to make us care.
From:
The Rainbow Bunch - developer - JWHS(T)
Ask
3/19/2009
So what are you, as the farmers, going to do to help
clean up the bay? You mention how much
damage the homeowners do, but you say nothing about how
you are going to make up for the
damages you cause. It is true that farms provide us with
food, and I agree that you should
not be solely blamed for the pollution. But the fact is
that everyone is at fault for poluting
the bay.
From:
Charlie's Critters - Other - JWHS(T)
Statement
3/20/2009
Hello!you have a good point that farmers do give us food
and other things,but fences aren't
enough. i think farmers need to plant trees and other
crops to try to keep things out of the
water.also you say that people need to give you money
and try to live in your life,but you
chose to be a farmer knowing that you dont make much
money so you shouldnt be
complaining. just my personal opinion.
From:
The Black Panthers - farmer - JWHS(T)
Ask
3/20/2009
Im a farmer in Frederick county myself. People these
days are just always looking for
someone to blame. As my group pointed out earlier
farming doesn't even provide half of the
total pollution, but people need someone to point a
finger at and unfortunately farmers are
the ones who take the bulk of it. The government is so
interested in foreign affairs and
giving money to auto-makers that they barely look
helping farmers take steps to reduce the
flow of feces and chemicals into the rivers and streams.
Speaking of chemicals, is it really
that necessary to put all that salt and other chemicals
on the roads when it snows? Some
roads in Frederick county still have salt and other
chemicals on them. Its obvious because
they look white, so maybe the government can take steps
to reducing salt and other chemical
uses on the roads. We only need so much on the roads.
Response
The dukes of hazzard - farmer - LHS(J)
3/23/2009
Yes the salt could be reduced, we seriously dont need
that much. In parts of
Massachussetts, they have areas along some portions of
highway that are designated
"No Salt Zones". These areas are located near swamps. If
salt poses no health
problems, then why do these zones exist?
From:
Bay Huggers - farmer - JWHS(T)
Ask
3/23/2009
the general public hasn't even come close to using eve a
fraction of the manure for pesonal
use. you might want to consider cleaning up after your
own livestock.
From:
The Rainbow Bunch - developer - JWHS(T)
Ask
3/23/2009
When you say keeping your animals in a fences will
prevent less pollution. Well when they
poop you think that it just stay in the area where the
fences are. But when it rains where will
it end up?? The nutrients from the poop end up in the
streams which you were trying to
prevent.
From:
Night Lights Gas Co. - Other - BHS
Ask
4/1/2009
How do your farms make our world cleaner? I don't see
many people buying fertilizer to use
on their flower beds much, but I do see poorly made
fences all the time on farms. I have
seen cows get out of these fences that farmers make.
The part that makes me angry is the
fences that the cows get out of are all the same
anywhere I go. Can't farmers make better
quality fences? What do you guys use the animals manure
for? If you use the manure for
fertilizer wouldn't you be contributing to the
pollution. And since your fields are so much
bigger than a regular person's land, wouldn't that make
you the biggest cause for the
pollution from ferilizing?
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Farmers
power rangers
Luray H.S. - Judd
3/19/2009
Farmers need to be reckognized for everything they
do! Countys are starting to talk about
making farmers fence off their cattle from streams and
such but my question is who will have
to pay for them? Will the farmers have to? If they have
to who will pay for it when it gets
washed out by a flood or torn up by another natural
disaster! Since it is not the farmers idea to
put the fence up they shouldent have to pay to do it!
People complain about cattle and other
farm animals using the bathroom in streams and such but
what about fish and other wild life
that do it. Is the government going to make nationtal
parks fence off streams also so that
wildlife cant do it also. They also complain about
chemicals and things being washed into the
water but you have to rember farmers produce alot of
things that keep a country going and give
it supplies of food and other things. But homeowners
put many chemicals on their yards to
make them look good and on their gardens to. These get
washed into the ground and at some
point in tim they probably get washed into streams also.
So farmers arent the only reason for
pollution in streams!!
Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond
Thoughtful
Questions
From:
Administration of Stream Sweeping - farmer - BHS
Ask
3/30/2009
do you think that farmers don't have to do anything to
help the bay? Everyone needs to do
something and blame isn't and shouldn't be placed all
one person.
From:
Flower Children - Other - BHS
Statement
3/30/2009
I agree that the farmers should not have to fence the
animals away from streams. Besides
the cost of fencing construction and repair, the farmers
then have to pay for the water that
their animals drink to be brought in from some other
source.
From:
Hoof Print Hotties - farmer - CHS
Ask
4/3/2009
No matter what there is going to be money coming out of
the farmers pockets in order to
help pay for cleaning up the bay.There is going to be
money coming out of other peoples
pockets also, its not only going to be yours.
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Farmers
Grim Farms Inc.
James Wood H.S.- Fordyce
3/20/2009
We the farmers feel we are very beneficial to the
Chesapeake Bay area. We are providing
crops, meats, and milk to the people that live nearby.
The bays problems have been affecting our
livelihood as well. The dirty and polluted water
is causing our livestock to become sick sometimes
resulting in death. We as a whole have spent
excessive amount of money nursing sick livestock back to
health.
- The Chesapeake Bays chemically polluted water is
killing crops.
- The solutions to the Chesapeake Bay issues have
all proven to be expensive.
- Organic fertilizers are expensive to use
- Animal waste is costly and time consuming to
dispose of
- It is not convenient for us to plant filter
strips and buffers
- Drilling livestock wells exceeds any price we are
willing to pay
- On the other hand some solutions can affect us
for the better.
- If we use organic fertilizers we can up our
prices for being organic
- New born animals have a better chance for
survival
Ideas for solutions:
- Use half organic/half chemical (unless we are
provided with the necessary money)
- If local landscapers provided defective trees we
will gladly plant them (we are not willing
to buy these items)
- Recycle corn we can’t sell to people as food for
our livestock
IF WE ARE PROVIDED WITH THE MONEY WE WILL DO
WHATEVER IT TAKES TO
CLEANUP THE BAY.
Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond
Thoughtful
Questions
From:
power rangers - farmer - LHS(J)
Statement
3/23/2009
I agree with you! This is all a money issue. It other
people want farmers to stop pollution
then who is going to pay for it? The farmers shouldent
have to because it isint thier idea.
Response
Grim Farms Inc. - farmer - JWHS(F)
3/24/2009
The goverment or indpendent agencies, they are the ones
who want to change the way
we live. I believe that their the ones that should pay.
We make little money as it is.
From:
County of Talbot - local_gov - JWHS(F)
Ask
3/26/2009
The black panthers once said that there is an invention
called the fence that could help solve
this issue. Some of your ideas are logical but how do
you expect to get the money? Everyone
is demanding money and money is the issue but where
would it come from? Everyone is going
to have to give a little to take a little. The bay is
chemically polluted because of the farm
land that lacks buffers and fences. If you invest your
money to install these two things, your
livestock will be healthier with time. If your
livestock are dying from the polluted water
then it would be convenient for you to put in filter
strips and buffers. If you improve your
fence then we may lend you all some money. Also your
ideas that benifit you could over
weigh the negatives that you listed first. Being called
organic will give you more money to
pay for the organic fertalizer. I also like how you are
willing to recycle the corn that you
cannot sell for your livestock. As money is needed we
must come up with a plan to provide
additional funds. We wrote in our plan a good source of
income that is fair to everyone. We
could tax everyone but with a declining rate as the bays
problems improve. This would
inspire people to help with the bay to decrease that
taxes. Everyone will have to give but
everyone will benifit from a healthier watershed/bay. As
for with the other farmers in the
area, would you consider them to agree with your ideas?
Would they consider converting to
using organic fertalizers? As farmers you are a very
benificial asset to the Chesapeake Bay
area. You provide everyone with crops, meats, and milk.
So the overall plan must start with
your opinions and concerns. What do you mean by
lanscapers providing DEFECTIVE trees?
Im not sure if I understand what your trying to say
here. From Your Gov't
Response
Grim Farms Inc. - farmer - JWHS(F)
3/31/2009
thanks for agreeing with us...for the most part.but we
believe you have overlooked
some of our ideas. you mentioned going organic to raise
our prices but you must take
into consideration that organic methods are extremely
costly. the govt needs to step
up and lend a helping hand. we cant implants the
buffers and trees due to the money
issue as well. money is the root of all our pollution
problems and if we dont have it
how can you expect us to change
Response
Grim Farms Inc. - farmer - JWHS(F)
3/31/2009
I dont get what yor trying to say. Farmers dont have the
money in order to create
buffers or fences, And we really couldn't switch to
organic farming because that
cost a good penny also. but the goverment are the ones
trying to get farmers to create
these buffers, fences and organic crops. There the ones
that should pay a good
amount of the cost. We don't have money let alone the
amount of labor needed to
meet these goals, so labor would jack up the price so
much more. pretty much if the
goverment wants to change us they can pay for it. We are
fine how we are.
From:
Da ottonos - local_gov - JWHS(T)
Statement
4/2/2009
yes you are right the government needs to pass many
laws, and we the government, are
working on that right now its not easy to convince the
senate to do this kind of action.
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Farmers
Summerdean Farm
Riverheads H.S.
3/20/2009
In our area, protection of our water resources is
a must. Owning a farm in the Chesapeake
Bay watershed means that management of wastes and
nutrients is an important aspect of my
business. Excess nutrients such as nitrogen run off into
streams and rivers or seep through the
soil into the water system. This leeching is usually a
result from over-application of poultry and
dairy manure rich in nitrogen that are spread onto
farmland. Therefore, the amount of
fertilizer that I put onto my fields must be limited and
properly managed. As for my farm, I am
registered with the Virginia Department of Conservation
and Recreation, where I have a
nutrient management plan set up to protect the water
that flows through my land. I currently
use a combination of cover crops and grass barriers to
filter out and absorb excess nitrogen
that may run off with rain. The use of cover crops also
helps reduce the amount of soil erosion,
which is another main concern of the Chesapeake Bay.
Almost all of the streams on my
property are fenced off from my cattle so manure cannot
directly enter the water. These
practices have proved very effective, as the nitrogen
and phosphorous levels of the water
have dropped significantly on my land. These techniques
have their price, but the State of
Virginia has given me grant money to help ease the cost
on my business. However, I feel that I
should do this because what I do effects me directly, as
I draw my tap water from a well. But
excess nutrients in the Bay watershed remains an issue
as many farmers are not registered
with DCR, and the spreading of fertilizers continues to
go unchecked across the state. I am
pushing my local congressman to try to pass legislation
to require farmers to start better
management practices.
Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond
Thoughtful
Questions
From:
Ronnie Colemans - Waterman - GCHS
Ask
4/1/2009
This sounds like an excellent plan but what are the
chances of all this action actually
happening while still maintaining a profit for your
farm?
Response
Summerdean Farm - farmer - RvrHS
4/14/2009
not all of the farmland can be fenced off and protected
all within one year. it'll take
a while, because we can only address one field at a
time. By only fixing a little at a
time we will be able to maintain our profits.
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Farmers
We Run At Night
Broadway H.S.
3/20/2009
Agriculture is a staple industry of the Chesapeake
Bay watershed, but science has proven
time and time again that it is a major source of water
pollution from excess nutrients and
sediment. This pollution comes from many sources, but
there are as many ways to reduce
pollution responsibly as there are sources. Major
animal pollution comes from manure entering
waterways—either from animals standing in the stream, or
from the storage or spreading of
manure too close to waterways and sources of
groundwater. Cows and other large livestock
also erode stream banks when they have access to them,
which allows more sediment to enter
and pollute the water. Much of this pollution can be
solved by keeping cows away from and out
of creeks and by analyzing where best to store manure.
Fencing creek zones and leaving a
wide buffer zone—of at least 35 feet with 100 feet
recommended—with plenty of vegetation
is also important in reducing pollution from crops.
When too much fertilizer—with high levels
of nitrogen and phosphorous—is applied to fields, the
excess nutrients leech into precipitation
and pollute the runoff which eventually enters the
streams. Since more water becomes runoff
when the field is empty, planting cover crops to absorb
the nutrients and water also helps
combat pollution.
As more farmers become aware of BMPs, their
benefits will become better known as well.
Although most BMPs have an initial cost, there are
plenty of government subsidies available,
and many will make operations more profitable. For
example, when cattle are restrained from
streams and given clean, fresh water, they grow more
quickly and are heavier and healthier
than cattle who drink from streams. Therefore, they
reach market weight earlier and with less
feed than those whose only source of water is a stream.
The only costs to implement this BMP
are fencing and proper water troughs. Another cheap,
easy BMP is cover cropping. This
involves planting a winter crop, such as wheat, after a
main cash crop has been harvested and
allowing it to grow during the fall and early spring.
Although it requires gasoline and seed,
there is also a second harvest from those fields.
Careful regulation of fertilizer also benefits
both the producer and the environment because farmers
can use only the amount needed and
not apply extra, which saves money, and the environment
because the nutrients in the extra
fertilizer would usually leech into the runoff and
contaminate the streams. Manure pits are
one of the more expensive BMPs to implement, but
government programs will subsidize up to 75
percent of a project or up to fifty thousand dollars.
Most farmers will be willing to adapt their
operations to meet BMPs, especially the less-expensive
ones.
Since one EPA report
estimates that up to sixty percent of the nitrogen and
twenty-seven percent of the phosphorous entering the bay
originate from cropland, not even counting pollution
from livestock—which constitutes a larger percentage of
the state’s and county’s agricultural revenue than does
cropland—farmers will be under increased pressure from
environmental agencies and the government. If the
streams become polluted enough to cause the bay to
collapse in its entirety, waterways throughout the
watershed will be too polluted to use for irrigation or
watering livestock. It would be much cheaper to employ
BMPs now rather than have to build more water treatment
plants so that farmers can water their livestock.
Rockingham County farmers and those from the entire
watershed should care about the bay and its tributaries
not only for their economic gain but also for that of
their comrades downstream and in the bay itself.
Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond
Thoughtful
Questions
From:
Barefoot Developers - developer - HHS
Ask
3/30/2009
How are you planning on making companies switch to these
new eco-friendly materials? The
switch will obviously cost money, so how are you
planning on making the companies pay for
all of these new materials? (Please take into
consideration our failing economy)
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Farmers
Administration of Stream Sweeping
Broadway H.S.
3/20/2009
Saving The Chesapeake Bay
“The Chesapeake Bay is described as a ‘National
Treasure’. That brings to mind images of
crabs, sailboats and beautiful sunsets.” The only
problem is that we are killing the bay and
therefore killing a ‘national treasure.’ That’s similar
to destroying Abraham Lincoln and I do
not believe many people would be happy if that would
happen. So why are people okay with
killing the Chesapeake bay? As a small landowner I put
my full support behind B.M.P. and I use
them everyday to do my part in keeping the bay healthy.
I have planted many different types of trees and
grass to help keep my part of the
Shenandoah river clean and clear of sediments. I own
property were Linville creek runs into
the north fork of the Shenandoah river and in my attempt
to use B.M.P. I have planted poplar
trees and oak trees behind as many different types of
grass I could find on my river banks to
help prevent soil erosion into the river and creek.
Since I am only a small landowner and I do not own
any livestock I do have a small farm
however I do believe that if livestock owners put up
more fences to keep their livestock out of
the streams and rivers the Chesapeake Bay’s health will
finally start to improve significantly.
In my many flower beds and vegetable gardens I use no
pesticides of any kind on my plants and
I use animals like dogs to keep rodents and other
animals from eating my crops. I believe if
more farmers do what I do I believe that the bay’s
health will greatly improve over time and
continued practice of these ideas.
B.M.P. stands for Best Management Practices and
those are very important for farmers like
me. Some example of B.M.P. would be to put fences around
streams and lakes and to plant trees
and grasses on buffer zones and to not use pesticides or
fertilizers on crops. If people use
B.M.P in their daily lives the Bay’s health would go
from 38% health to a better percentage that
everyone could be happy with.
Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond
Thoughtful
Questions
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Farmers
Fresh to the Death
Farmers
Southern Columbia H.S.
3/23/2009
We are the Fresh to the Death Farmers and we represent
the small factory farms and
family farms across Pennsylvania. We are important
because we are a main source of food
for Pennsylvania.
PA represents a lot of the farmland that contributes
to the pollution of the Bay, but also
an important source of nutrients. Farmers impact the
Bay due to the fertilizers and animal
waste that enter the streams. Farming practices allow
sediment runoff, fertilizer, and
manure to enter stream and continue into the Bay.
We live above the bay so its problems and solutions
do not seem to affect us, although
we cannot overlook the potential ripple effect from job,
profit, and production loss. We
would like to be part of the solution by planting
buffers and moving grazing areas for farm
animals away from water sources. A decrease in farming
activities would slow down food
production and cause economical loss, yet it could mean
an increase in both for inhabitants
living near the Bay.
Farming does not have to cause excessive amounts of
pollution. Through means of
education, residents could learn how to practice best
management strategies that are good
for both PA and downstream water quality. If we don’t
do something now regulations
might be set in the future for anyone who has direct
access to water sources.
Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond
Thoughtful
Questions
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Farmers
BigKuntry
Jefferson H.S.-Picard
3/26/2009
Farmers have a great contribution in the pollution of
the Chesapeake Bay. Enhancing soil with
fertilizers and manure are great for the crops, but an
excess amount can lead to pollution.
Chemical pesticides also have the same downfalls.
Tilling crop land may not seem as anything
bad, but that as well leads to pollution. Farmers
contribute to many nonpoint sources of
pollution of the Chesapeake Bay. A solution towards the
pollution issue could be somewhat
costly for farmers because the use of grass buffers can
cause a less production of crops
which could lessen the space for producing
crops. Fertilizer as well as using manure for
the
soil is great for plant growth because of the nutrients
provided but too much could lead to
runoff during rain, causing the excess to flow to the
nearest watershed, the Chesapeake Bay.
Animal manure is about half of the pollution in the
Bay’s watershed. The excess nutrients
which are mainly nitrogen and phosphorus contribute to
growth of algae. Algae effects the
Bay’s aquatic life, limiting sunlight and dissolved
oxygen. Chemical pesticides help protect
crops from insects, weeds, and fungus, but if too much
is applied the excess would contribute
towards the runoff. Tilling crops does not seem so bad,
but it can be. Tilling of crop land
loosens soil, which makes it easier to plant crops, but
it is also easier for the dirt to runoff.
To reduce pollution of watersheds, farmers will have
to limit the use of fertilizers, manure,
and chemical pesticides from overuse. Although a lot of
this pollution comes from farmers’
use, private homeowners also take part in it. Private
homeowners should learn not to overuse
the plant enhancing chemicals.
Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond
Thoughtful
Questions
From:
Administration of Stream Sweeping - farmer - BHS
Ask
3/30/2009
How could farmers reduce their pollution but still make
money and continue to function?
From:
Administration of Stream Sweeping - farmer - BHS
Ask
3/30/2009
How are you planning on making sure no one overuses
fertilizers or pesticides?
From:
Hoof Print Hotties - farmer - CHS
Ask
4/3/2009
Where do you plan on getting the money to help reduce
pollution?
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Farmers
Coo-Coo-Ca-Choo
James Wood H.S.- McDonald
3/26/2009
We are farmers and we do realize that what we do
affects the pollution in the Chesapeake
Bay. We grow crops and raise animals. On the other hand
we also understand that some of the
methods we use to faster produce crops, such as
pesticides can be harmful to the economy. This
is why for many years farmers have been cutting back on
fertilizing trying to find more
organic and less pollutant ways to fertilizing our
crops. Demand of our products increases by
the minute especially with the state of our economy.
However, what everyone else does also,
affects the bay so it is not only the farmers. Farmers
provide every human being with food on
the table and for cheap too.
We also have come up with solutions that will help
out to clean the bay, by building buffers,
putting up fences to keep cattle out of water and also
by building controlled manure pits. These
ideas will help keep the fertilizer and soil out of the
streams. This method helps soil erosion.
Therefore we could use less amounts of pesticides and
use proper quantities of it. Another
helpful idea is we can recycle water and cut costs and
we can use that money to save the bay.
By building treatment plants, we can decrease the amount
of fertilizer that would have been
dumped into the streams.
Another thing we farmer need to keep in mind is
that when it comes to money we are on a
tight budget. If the new solutions to preventing harmful
organisms from getting to the plants
are timely, the production rate of our farms will go
down, causing farmers to lose money, and
possibly our jobs. If we cannot keep up a steady pace of
producing crops for the economy
because we are trying to find other ways for spreading
natural pesticides or performing other
actions to protect the crop, our businesses have a
possibility to fail! Therefore if our farming
industry goes down the rest of our already failing
economy will take a major hit. So if there is
a major drop in our food supplies the people who are
already giving up so much because of
economy situation will not be able to depend on our
basic food necessities.
If they start making us pay expensive taxes and
upgrading all of our equipment then no one
will be able to afford to farm so then there will be
less farms, yeah it might save a crab or two
but it is making farms go under and driving prices of
food up. All of these solutions will not
benefit us directly, it will take some time for us to
see the changes, but they will come.
Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond
Thoughtful
Questions
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Farmers
I'm On A Boat Farmers
Jefferson H.S.-Picard
3/26/2009
Hello, we are the “I’m On A Boat” farmers from
Jefferson High School. We are writing in
to establish our position about the current situation
with the Chesapeake bay, and to forward
our concerns and our hopes to solve the current issues.
The water quality of the Chesapeake
bay is important to everyone. For farmers, water
quality could mean the success or failure of a
harvest season. With our entire form of income relying
on the hope of a successful harvest,
we simply cannot afford to fail. It is not just our
crops that will suffer, either. Our livestock
also requires water to grow and live. Even the farmers
themselves are reliant on the water
quality if they use a well.
We propose a reformation in nutrient management. We
will gladly resort to using riparian
buffers consisting of grasses, trees, and shrubbery that
have been increased to a size of 35
feet around our crops. In addition, and pending
govenrment funding, we will build new fences
in order to keep our livestock out of adjoining streams
and other natural water sources. We are
also willing, if necessary, to find ways to divert
water from runoffs to water treatment plants.
Finally, with hopes to decrease nutrient runoff even
further, we will begin use of a new hybrid
mix of partially organic fertilizer.
We must also prepare for future farms, and how to
prepare them so that they will cause little
to no damage to the Chesapeake Bay. Our solution goes
back to a timeless rule amongst
realtors: Location, location, location. We wish to
create a new guideline on where farms can
be established. We feel that if a desired location is
too close to a wetlands, or a known runoff
site, a farm cannot be built there. We also wish to
find ways to advert water from farm
runoffs to water treatments plants, perhaps through
guide pipes installed under the soil. These
water treatment plants will give a basic filtration of
the water flowing to it before we allow it
to run into the Chesapeake bay, removing substinces such
as pesticides and sediment.
Hopefully this solution will prevent future problems.
Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond
Thoughtful
Questions
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Farmers
Farmers of TAHS
Turner-Ashby H.S.
3/27/2009
Although farmers receive a majority of the blame for the
pollution in the Chesapeake Bay,
we are not the only culprits of environmental
disruption. Everyone influences the
environment in negative ways, no matter how small of an
impact they think they make.
Unfortunately, farmers work hard just to make it from
week to week on their
unsubstantial paychecks. We do not have excess amounts
of money to spend on BMP’s and
Nutrient Management Plans. The solution for this
problem would be government
intervention in a financial means, but during these
economic times, this is not a reasonable
answer. Our next best solution would be for everyone to
do one simple thing to protect the
Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Whether it means recycling
plastics and aluminum, or
sacrificing your picturesque green lawns, everyone can
take part. We are willing to
sacrifice our time and money to implement BMP’s and
recycle all we can. We farmers
agree to do our best to protect the Chesapeake Bay, but
we need your help as well.
Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond
Thoughtful
Questions
From:
Administration of Stream Sweeping - farmer - BHS
Ask
3/30/2009
What types or forms of BMP's could farmers implement to
help the Bay?
From:
Administration of Stream Sweeping - farmer - BHS
Ask
3/30/2009
Some people do not have access to a recycling center so
what are you planning on doing to
help people recycle?
From:
Flower Children - Other - BHS
Statement
3/30/2009
There are still many ways farmers can contribute to the
health of the Chesapeake Bay
without emptying their wallets. Simply planting grass
and trees on the edge of your crops,
can filter runoff and keep pesticides and other
chemicals out of our bay.
From:
Bay Huggers - farmer - JWHS(T)
Ask
4/1/2009
You made some very good points here. This is one of the
best I have read so far. But there is
one problem. You only mentioned two ways to help stop
pollution. There are many other ways
than recycling and sacrificing your lawn to stop
pollution. So how do you expect to get all
the farmes to partcipate with your ideas?
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Farmers
DD Farms
Musselman H.S.
3/31/2009
We as farmers need to make some changes to help the
Chesapeake Bay water shed. The beef
cows need to be fenced in from the creeks, streams and
rivers. We also need to till the land
different form the way we do it now to help decrease
water runoff. We also need to use
different chemicals and fertilizers for the crops. The
over use of fertilizers is also a big
problem that needs taken care of. The farmers need
manure pits for the excess manure to keep
it from getting into the creeks, and streams and rivers.
BMPs: Manure pits (use old tractor tires- to
make manure pits) and We keep run off from the water
with silt fence.
what size? 2-300 acres [with] Cows, Horses,
Chickens, Pigs, 1barn, Hay= 400acres, Corn=150
feed, Soy- feed potatoes
Chemicals- oil, grease, radiator fluid, diesel
gas, Lime, Spray, Presticides
Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond
Thoughtful
Questions
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Farmers
Hoof Print Hotties
Calvert H.S.
4/2/2009
Where would the United States be without the farming
industry? It came about long before the
industrial revolution. Farmers make the most profit and
use out of the top soil. What some
people don’t realize is that we need the soil as much as
anyone; we also rely on fresh, clean
water for our livestock. We are willing to take many
steps towards preventing further soil
erosion and stream pollution. For example, we work to
maintain contour farming which reduces
erosion as much as 50% from up and downhill farming. We
also till around hills on flatter
surfaces and plant windbreaks between the different
crops. This prevents loss of soil from
high winds caused by storms. In the winter when the soil
tends to dry out, we plant a cover crop
which keeps the soil fertile for next season. However,
as with everything else in our industry,
it costs money. We have to spend part of our money
earned on crops that we don’t make much
profit off of. One of the most obvious steps towards
preventing pollution is our fences
containing the cattle and other livestock. Each fence is
carefully placed a safe distance away
from the shoreline of the rivers. Solid, quality fencing
requires money as well. Also, our
livestock is rotated from field to field to prevent
over-grazing. The farming industry has had
trouble in the past few years and many of us have
resorted to corporate farming. What we
request is a small tax from local towns in hopes that it
will help make up for the money we lose
when we resist using fertilizers and harmful pesticides.
The blame for erosion and pollution
can’t be put on one group. When we farmers receive help
we will the return the favor ten fold.
Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond
Thoughtful
Questions
From:
Catch o' the Bay - CB_Ecosystem - HHS
Ask
4/3/2009
The watershed pollution isn't being blamed on just the
farmers. We aren't trying to take the
soil awa from you. We agree that the U.S. depends on
the agricultural industry, but it also
depends on the waterman. What would the U.S. be without
the crabs, fish, and other aquatic
life also being consumed? It is understandable that you
can't do anything without the extra
money but other groups need the money aswell.
Therefore, the money needs to be divided
equally, causing it to take more time to help the
problem in one area.
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Farmers
Pollution Pigs
Calvert H.S.
4/3/2009
Farming is a very important service that we
provide for our community, but is also very
destructive. As farmers, we do realize the effects of
growing crops and raising livestock, but
is a service that we cannot live without. Farming is a
big contributor to pollution in the bay but
there are many options to help reduce the effects.
Around our pasture we are building a fence,
so our livestock would not be able to escape . This will
help prevent overgrazing of the vegetation cover or some
of the buffers around the banks. Buffers are a big
contribution to slowing runoff as well. We want to plant
more to prevent fertilizers and feces from getting into
the water. This includes planting trees, shrubs, and
grasses. A third method that we could us is creating a
sediment pond. It is an inexpensive way to collect
some of the harmful runoff. We would put them at the
bottom of slopes so they would flow into it.
Cleaning up the bay takes a lot of effort ad
time. Farmers need to be more flexible with their
methods. Changes can be made that will not negatively
affect their crops or profits and that will help
improve the environment all around. There are other
methods besides using harmful fertilizers and pesticides
to protect crops. Farmers are on tight budgets, but
investing some time and money now into better management
practices will help them to be more successful in the
future. Maybe people could help make donations to
farmers to help them be able to afford these
practices. Farmers do so much for their community that
they deserve some help and credit for
their efforts and work.
Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond
Thoughtful
Questions
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Farmers
Culvert County Chicks
Calvert H.S.
4/3/2009
As farmers, our career is very essential to
the United States. The basis of most food
production comes from farming. We do realize that we are
contributing to some of the
pollution in the Chesapeake Bay; however the Bay is also
harming us in a number of ways. We
are willing to take action in decreasing the amount of
the pollution we contribute, but we also
need the help of everyone else.
The pollutants in the bay are causing much
harm to our livestock and vegetation. The contaminants
in the water cause our livestock to become sick and in
some cases results in death. Our livestock and our crops
are important because they are food for the people.
Also, though it is not under our control, erosion and
runoff occur which takes away the nutrients we need in
the soil that are essential to farming.
You may be wondering, “What solutions are
there?” Well, there are many that we have come up with
to handle the problems for us and others who are
affected. Grass buffers and tree buffers would be the
most effective, easiest, and cheapest solutions. They
absorb runoff containing
fertilizers and pesticides before entering the water.
This also prevents soil erosion. We could
also plant cover crops, which is a sustainable tool used
to manage soil fertility, soil quality,
water, weeds, diseases, etc. Another effective step we
could take is to create cattle ponds.
This would draw the cattle away from the bay, which
would benefit both of us. The bay will not
be contaminated with manure or any other waste coming
from the livestock and we won’t have
to worry about the chemicals in the bay killing our
animals. If this isn’t enough, we may have to
build fences to keep the livestock out. Lastly, we know
that our use of pesticides and
fertilizers are causing harm to the bay and the
organisms in the bay. So this is why we are
going to cut back on the amount that we use. Because we
can’t farm without them, we cannot
completely eliminate them, but we can surely decrease
the amount.
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Farmers
J & B Pollutants
Calvert H.S.
4/3/2009
We farmers must do all we can to overcome poor water.
Our methods of doing this is by
creating forest buffers. Forest buffers can prevent
large amounts of sediments from eroiding
into the water. In order to maintain our fields we will
practice crop rotation in order to keep
this soil full or nutrients. Us farmers will also have
cover crops to stop sediment from eroding
from the fields. With nutrient management plans the soil
will stay well maintained, and will
prevent some erosion from the wuality of the water.
Furthermore farmers can practice
terricing to decrease the speed of water running down
hill to slow erosion. Contour plaowing
will also go across slopes and slow down erosion like
terracing does. These farmers whohave
livestock can have their animals roam infenced areas
away from the water so that they dont
pollute with their wastes. Farmers use fertalizers can
limit the amounts they use. They can
make sure that acess will not flow into the surrounding
areas. Also the can also spread a
reasonable distance away from the water. Sediment ponds
would be useful to these farmers
who do not wish to practice other methods of prevention.
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