Really good read on buffers and wildlife
- Thread starter UGUIDE
- Start date
I can understand why farmers would close there land to hunting after the state of Minnesota took there land rights away. At least in South Dakota it is not mandatory. I am all for water quality, but you stop soil erosion and nutrient runoff at the top of the hill. By the time it gets to the bottom of the where the buffers are it is too late. I am on the board of the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition, water quality is one of the things we work on. The best thing that Minnesota can do is get farmers to quit tillage, especially plowing in the fall.
UGUIDE
Active member
I recently sent this to my buddy at Corn Growers:
"As much as I don't care for entitlements and big government, our last conversation sparked some thoughts in my little brain. This recent PF article, and more so the picture, solidified it.
I always thought of tree belts and drainages as corridors for wildlife. A drainage is certainly a potential corridor for clean or polluted water depending on how it is managed.
Bordering my property I have public roads that others have a right of way to but I own up to the middle of it.
I see no difference with water rights. The public may be entitled to a clean water right of way across private property. Just like the road ditch is the buffer for the road the clean water easement is the buffer for the mitigation of AG behavior and pollutants, runoff, and the drainage is the main travel corridor for clean water and wildlife and more.
The balance of quality cost effective food is at odds with a clean water source for which to wash it down with. AG land amendments are a big concern and a big issue. Voluntary options will not get it done."
It seems that Big Ag is not concerned with water quality and figures folks can go buy all the clean water they want at the store (or public utility) where they buy the food they produce too.
"As much as I don't care for entitlements and big government, our last conversation sparked some thoughts in my little brain. This recent PF article, and more so the picture, solidified it.
I always thought of tree belts and drainages as corridors for wildlife. A drainage is certainly a potential corridor for clean or polluted water depending on how it is managed.
Bordering my property I have public roads that others have a right of way to but I own up to the middle of it.
I see no difference with water rights. The public may be entitled to a clean water right of way across private property. Just like the road ditch is the buffer for the road the clean water easement is the buffer for the mitigation of AG behavior and pollutants, runoff, and the drainage is the main travel corridor for clean water and wildlife and more.
The balance of quality cost effective food is at odds with a clean water source for which to wash it down with. AG land amendments are a big concern and a big issue. Voluntary options will not get it done."
It seems that Big Ag is not concerned with water quality and figures folks can go buy all the clean water they want at the store (or public utility) where they buy the food they produce too.
Not knowing for sure but I imagine at one time the easement for the road was purchased. I wonder if the Minnesota law would stand a constitutional challenge.
Most drainage ditches I know of have the spoils piled next to them, although some places this has been removed for fill dirt.
Buffers on these stretches would really serve no purpose in terms of water quality.
You want to improve water quality I think a person would do well to look at those orange risers in the fields.
Most drainage ditches I know of have the spoils piled next to them, although some places this has been removed for fill dirt.
Buffers on these stretches would really serve no purpose in terms of water quality.
You want to improve water quality I think a person would do well to look at those orange risers in the fields.