Shelterbelts still important
Re: Kevin Hursh’s column, Field shelterbelts were never the right solution, Western Producer, page 11, June 26.
Well, it’s apparent that Mr. Hursh never had to deal with the dry and wind years of the 1930s, when never-ending dust clouds, grasshoppers, Russian thistles and no rain settled on the Prairies.
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The settlers of those years knew if they were to survive, changes had to be taken in their farming methods and stop their land base from being blown away.
The tree and shrub belts were a beginning, but also a challenge, because the scarcity of water, even for themselves and livestock, resulted in many failures and setbacks.
But eventually, conditions improved and the trees and shelterbelts began to flourish, and were successful.
Yes, now, with modern farming methods and large machinery, they have become somewhat of a nuisance to the aggressive farmers of today, so they are ripped away, piled and burned.
The agriculture minister has now proclaimed that shelterbelts and pastures are not the way of the future and that stubble fields and continuous cropping are the new salvation.
Guess he’s been in touch with nature at the highest level and been assured that drought years and windstorms are a past memory and will never return to challenge the modern farmers of today.
His crystal ball is due for a cleaning and complete overhaul. Born in the early 1930s, I remember.
John Fefchak,
Virden, Man.
