After readingThe Western Producerfor about three years now I feel compelled to respond. Zero till seems to be the growing trend.
There is so much talk about how bad conventional tillage is for the environment. My grandfathers, my father and now I continue to conventional till, and I am proud to say I will finish my farming career this way.
What is zero till? You’re telling me what it’s not, but what replaces the tillage? Zero till doesn’t work alone. Chemical replaces the tillage. A burn off is done before seeding. Then one, two or three passes in crop, one of which is desiccating just prior to harvest. Then again after harvest another burn off is sprayed. Three to five chemical passes in one year on the same piece of land….
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I spray once in June for weeds only but that’s it. I don’t understand how the environment authorities are worried about my cultivation when all this chemical is getting sprayed onto the land and into the water table if the conditions are right. I understand erosion, but replacing a metal shovel with chemical is not environmentally friendly. Pesticide use is not an option on my farm.
Along with bad insects a lot of good insects and innocent animals and birds are being killed.…
I’m very proud to say my father was and continues to be my role model. Chemical was used sparingly. Cattle were never abused. The barns were cleaned even if it was -35 C. When equipment got to be 20 years old, it looked new.
Now I am encouraged by industry to sell my land and rent it back so I can afford to buy the chemical, fertilizer and equipment I need to farm. If my grandfathers and father ever knew I did something like this, I imagine disappointment and heartache would be their reaction.
I don’t know if my time on the farm will end this year or 20 years from now but I can truly say zero till (chemical dependency) is not an option.
Future policy may force me to quit but I have already accepted that possibility. Until then, chemical use will be limited, genetically modified crops will not be grown, implants will never be used in my calves (at least while they are on my property) and cleanliness will continue to be a priority. I hope every farmer in Canada has a successful 2011.
Sidney Mantay,Springside, Sask.
