Farmers would be wise to heed public environmental and food safety concerns now, lest they face unwanted legislation and penalties down the road.
This is not say they should be forced to shoulder all the financial burdens. Costs to address issues like the environment that fall into the broader public interest should be spread among the public at large.
Responsible land stewardship is closely linked to public health and food safety. Indeed, Ottawa has made it a key component of its five-year agricultural policy framework. As well, provinces have adopted, or are in the process of adopting, procedures that would see farmers voluntarily set up environmental farm plans. And last week it was revealed that the federal fisheries department is acting more aggressively to ensure farmers and other agricultural operators do all they can to minimize agricultural runoff into waterways, be it manure, fertilizers or pesticides.
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Most farmers are sound caretakers of the land. They love the land and the species it nurtures.
But there are a few exceptions who tarnish the image. As well, research has prompted a change in thinking during the last 20 years as to what constitutes best farm management practices. Few can challenge that there is a need to bring some farmers more in line with modern best management practices. Indeed, most farmers themselves would welcome the changes were it not for one nagging detail – cost.
Changing to better farm management practices might mean moving cattle pens from high ground where manure runoff drains into a stream. Or it could mean restoring a riverside and leaving it out of production as a buffer zone, or encouraging use of global positioning systems and variable rate technology to more efficiently apply fertilizers.
But profits are already razor thin and farmers can ill afford to make expensive changes, even if they see the value.
Meanwhile, American and European Union farmers have access to many programs designed to bring farmers more in line with environmental sustainability, including land retirement programs, land set-asides and wetland restoration, to name a few.
In Canada, similar measures are needed to help farmers better address this public issue.
Farmers are well aware of the benefits of adopting best management practices. In addition to producing safer food, protecting the environment and public health, farmers’ public image as wholesome land stewards is a powerful selling point.
Surely taxpayers will see the fairness in adopting the carrot approach and offering incentives to change, instead of penalties for noncompliance.
All of society must share the costs of instituting practices that work toward the good of society as a whole.
