It’s about time! Everyone knows that increased regulation always solves the problem. ~ quote penned by Tim Eshleman, sarcastic brother-in-law.Recently I wrote a post that encouraged ag retailers to assist farmers with future regulations. Since then, I have been asked for my opinion several times on regulating agricultural pollution. As I ponder this question, I find the answer is complicated. First, let me go on record by saying that I absolutely believe farmers need to reduce soil erosion and improve water quality. The science is crystal …
Ag’s Impossible To-do List
Have you ever felt like you're responsible for completing an impossible to-do list? Who hasn't, right?I can vividly remember one day earlier this year when I attempted to type a list of all of the things (both personally and professionally) that I wanted to accomplish every day. I still have the list... it has 15 items. As a number, 15 doesn't really seem like that many. But, these weren't everyday obvious things. The words on my list weren't brush teeth, pay bills, empty Inbox, or feed kids. Next to each check box were phrases like learn …
Sustainability — the crop input of tomorrow
The business of farming is changing. Consumers are demanding sustainably produced food, the global population is exploding, issues such as hypoxia, algae blooms and climate change are dominating the news, and the threat of environmental regulation looms near. As the call for more conservation practices continues to rise, growers will increasingly turn to their trusted service providers (their ag retailer) for assistance. In my conversations with ag retail leadership, it is obvious they are becoming acutely aware of the need to implement …
Buffer Strips: The last ditch effort for conservation?
When everything else fails there’s always the “last ditch effort.” By definition, the last ditch effort is never the first choice. Instead, it is reserved as the last choice. In my opinion, buffer strips should be seen as the last ditch effort. Why? Because it is our last chance to filter sediment and nutrients out of the water before they leave the farm. While this may be good for downstream water quality, it doesn’t do much to help the farm itself. We need to rely more on in-field conservation practices and less on edge of field practices. …
What the hell am I doing here?
This is one of my favorite family photos. I have entitled this picture, “What the hell am I doing here.” Take another good look at this picture. Look at the closed eyes, the pursed lips, the locked knees, and the hands behind the back. At the tender age of 3, my daughter Jessica spoke volumes in this picture. She made no bones about it. She was somewhere where she didn’t want to be, doing something she didn’t want to do, and she wasn’t going to hide her feelings. I often wonder what would happen if adults openly shared this same level of …
Cost of soil erosion in Iowa, not a pretty picture
Reprinted with permission from The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture By LAURA MILLER, Newsletter editor and JERI NEAL, Ecology Initiative Leader Rick Cruse is getting used to hearing a collective gasp about two-thirds of the way through his presentations these days. Cruse, who directs the Iowa Water Center and is Professor of Agronomy at Iowa State University, has made it his mission to share some startling information about soil erosion in Iowa. His message is two-fold:We’re losing much more soil than we think because not all …