Wednesday
Dec302009
I'm DONE farming - a pollution "solution"
Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at 12:53PM
There's lots of problems associated with pollution - and there's lots of empirical data that ties many sources of pollution to large scale "conventional" farm operations. So you just knew it would be a matter of time before one of those big production farmers would step up and step out... huh?!
To understand what I'm talking about - you need to give 2 minutes of your life to this NPR piece about a Maryland chicken farmer who quit farming all together because of the impact she felt she was having on the Chesapeake Bay. Watch - listen - then come on back.
After listening to her story - you have to scratch your head and wonder what's REALLY going on? She just decided, in the economic uncertainty our country is currently faced with, to quit her job... I'm sorry - not just quit her job, but stop utilizing tens of 1000's of dollars of assets and knowledge she has on the topic of farming... really? Just like that - her convictions are so strong she's ready for unemployment? I have no doubt her methodology was resulting in an environmental impact. Heck - going into a year dormant chicken house still smelled of strong ammonia (free nitrogen) is proof positive that the systems were out of balance. Yet with a strong and growing movement around sustainable farming practices, pasturing of flocks of birds and the premium prices that knowledgeable consumers are willing to pay for these types of healthy foods - she's just done? I call bull manure!
I guess the point of sharing this is really, again, to point out the terrific job the media does at sensationalizing any story to garner attention in these ADHD times. Frankly I don't think there's much of a story here. It WOULD be notable if she changed her practices to pasture based practices. Used natural techniques and mixed species farming to change from a net negative impact to a net positive, soil building, biodiversity supporting farming system. But nahh - it's easier to quit and then have the media report it like it's a good thing... to loose another farmer... no matter what their techniques... that's definitely NOT a good thing.
To understand what I'm talking about - you need to give 2 minutes of your life to this NPR piece about a Maryland chicken farmer who quit farming all together because of the impact she felt she was having on the Chesapeake Bay. Watch - listen - then come on back.
"Citing Toll On Environment, Chicken Farmer Gives Up"
After listening to her story - you have to scratch your head and wonder what's REALLY going on? She just decided, in the economic uncertainty our country is currently faced with, to quit her job... I'm sorry - not just quit her job, but stop utilizing tens of 1000's of dollars of assets and knowledge she has on the topic of farming... really? Just like that - her convictions are so strong she's ready for unemployment? I have no doubt her methodology was resulting in an environmental impact. Heck - going into a year dormant chicken house still smelled of strong ammonia (free nitrogen) is proof positive that the systems were out of balance. Yet with a strong and growing movement around sustainable farming practices, pasturing of flocks of birds and the premium prices that knowledgeable consumers are willing to pay for these types of healthy foods - she's just done? I call bull manure!
I guess the point of sharing this is really, again, to point out the terrific job the media does at sensationalizing any story to garner attention in these ADHD times. Frankly I don't think there's much of a story here. It WOULD be notable if she changed her practices to pasture based practices. Used natural techniques and mixed species farming to change from a net negative impact to a net positive, soil building, biodiversity supporting farming system. But nahh - it's easier to quit and then have the media report it like it's a good thing... to loose another farmer... no matter what their techniques... that's definitely NOT a good thing.
tagged chickens, commentary, environment, farming, sustainability in Farm Life, Politics or Other Rants
chickens, commentary, environment, farming, sustainability in Farm Life, Politics or Other Rants
Reader Comments (4)
She doesn't exactly look like a famewhore. So why else would she up and quit? Government subsidy? Gotta be a reason......
Dunno - but it's silly that they made it sound like she was doing something "special" as opposed to "stupid". It's one of those good intentions gone bad sorta things - I think.
Most likely DEP stepped in .. and she opted to quit "farming" instead of paying continual fines for lack of nutrient management.
Come on Josh - she's an altruist... looking out for the Bay... she KNEW what she was doing all those years was wrong... it just finally caught up with her soul and she did the right thing... (yawn)... that's what the news reporter fellow told me!
Likely - you hit the nail right on the head with your comment!
Gold star today!