Uh, gee, uh, thanks, Iowa.

[Jerome Silberman]

Is anyone really surprised that farmers don’t care about the environment?

From my experience a healthy chunk of Iowa farmers, if not the vast majority, really do care quite a lot about the environment and honestly do see themselves as stewards of the land.

That doesn't mean that their practices reflect there opinion of themselves, but I do believe farmers generally care about their impact on the environment.

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

Or @jamesvanderwulf

I'm like an LIV/PGA golfer. I have a family to take care of...

 

[globalhawk]

Guys, the solution is marshland filters before the runoff gets to the river. It's not hard.

It is with the Iowa legislature.

 

[Jerome Silberman]

Guys, the solution is marshland filters before the runoff gets to the river. It's not hard.

You ever looked at Iowa on a map?

 

[SWIowahawks]

Is behind the barn where the government gives big at their checks?

Wanna try that one again?

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

Guys, the solution is marshland filters before the runoff gets to the river. It's not hard.

Trouble is most of Iowa has a lot of clay, not all the black dirt/sandy loam that we have here on the river bottom. All the hilly fields are contoured and retained. Larger grassy buffers would help but everyone cries, SUBSIDIES!, when land is taken out of production for conservation...

 

[runkpanole]

Wanna try that one again?

At was supposed to be ag. Mea culpa.

 

[Scott559]

Guys, the solution is marshland filters before the runoff gets to the river. It's not hard.

Approximately 25% of Iowa’s land area was once in some form of a wetland ecosystem, a number that today has been reduced by upwards of 95%.

Wetlands in Iowa

Approximately 25% of Iowa’s land area was once in some form of a wetland ecosystem, a number that today has been reduced by upwards of 95%. Although extensive efforts have been made to restore these vital ecosystems, substantial work remains to regain the ecological function they once provided...

naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu

 

[SWIowahawks]

At was supposed to be ag. Mea culpa.

Might have worked with a little editing.

 

[The Tradition]

Approximately 25% of Iowa’s land area was once in some form of a wetland ecosystem, a number that today has been reduced by upwards of 95%.

Wetlands in Iowa

Approximately 25% of Iowa’s land area was once in some form of a wetland ecosystem, a number that today has been reduced by upwards of 95%. Although extensive efforts have been made to restore these vital ecosystems, substantial work remains to regain the ecological function they once provided...

naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu

Well that's too bad.

In Florida, you can grow cash crops in marshland (think sugar cane, rice, etc.).

Rice paddy fields of Florida

The Everglades farming area, long synonymous with sugar cane and winter vegetables, has seen a rise in planting in an obscure niche: Rice paddies.

www.floridatrend.com

 

[globalhawk]

Well that's too bad.

In Florida, you can grow cash crops in marshland (think sugar cane, rice, etc.).

Rice paddy fields of Florida

The Everglades farming area, long synonymous with sugar cane and winter vegetables, has seen a rise in planting in an obscure niche: Rice paddies.

www.floridatrend.com

Where else do you grow rice? It needs to be in a wetland.

 

[The Tradition]

Where else do you grow rice? It needs to be in a wetland.

South Carolina has a fairly robust rice farming industry, too.

 

[globalhawk]

South Carolina has a fairly robust rice farming industry, too.

Do you understand how it is grown? In flooded fields. JFC. You should take the rest of the day off.

 

[The Tradition]

Do you understand how it is grown? In flooded fields. JFC. You should take the rest of the day off.

So, you build a forty-feet wide wetland between your hog pens and the river.

It's NOT that hard.

If Iowa farmers were able "reclaim" 95 percent of the native wetlands, they can certainly "unclaim" them.

 

[THE_DEVIL]

From my experience a healthy chunk of Iowa farmers, if not the vast majority, really do care quite a lot about the environment and honestly do see themselves as stewards of the land.

That doesn't mean that their practices reflect there opinion of themselves, but I do believe farmers generally care about their impact on their environment.

fify

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

Does Louisiana worry about what their oil and chemical industry does to the rest of the country? They don't even worry about what happens in their own state. Has @JRHawk2003 considered moving to Louisiana after his last honor student graduates?

Welcome to “Cancer Alley,” Where Toxic Air Is About to Get Worse

Air quality has improved for decades across the U.S., but Louisiana is backsliding. Our analysis found that a crush of new industrial plants will increase concentrations of cancer-causing chemicals in predominantly black and poor communities.

www.propublica.org

 

[globalhawk]

So, you build a forty-feet wide wetland between your hog pens and the river.

It's NOT that hard.

If Iowa farmers were able "reclaim" 95 percent of the native wetlands, they can certainly "unclaim" them.

We are talking about rice. Stop it. Keep your focus.

 

[MitchLL]

From my experience a healthy chunk of Iowa farmers, if not the vast majority, really do care quite a lot about the environment and honestly do see themselves as stewards of the land.

That doesn't mean that their practices reflect there opinion of themselves, but I do believe farmers generally care about their impact on the environment.

Is that why so many remove waterways and plant row crops beyond fencelines and even into a portion of the ditches?

Yeah, I don't believe you.

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

So, you build a forty-feet wide wetland between your hog pens and the river.

It's NOT that hard.

If Iowa farmers were able "reclaim" 95 percent of the native wetlands, they can certainly "unclaim" them.

Ummm, the " hog pens " have basements, which fill with manure, which is then pumped out and knifed into the soil before planting. Some runs off anyway. Collateral damage, if you will...

 

[The Tradition]

We are talking about rice. Stop it. Keep your focus.

I was joking about the rice and sugar cane. That won't grow in the frozen north.

 

[globalhawk]

I was joking about the rice and sugar cane. That won't grow in the frozen north.

Wut? Just go away.

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

Is that why so many remove waterways and plant row crops beyond fencelines and even into a portion of the ditches?

Yeah, I don't believe you.

Have you ever tried to pull a 24 row planter through a ditch? I didn't think so...

 

[The Tradition]

Ummm, the " hog pens " have basements, which fill with manure, which is then pumped out and knifed into the soil before planting. Some runs off anyway. Collateral damage, if you will...

So the wetland is there to capture the run off. The plants in the wetland absorb the excess nutrients before cleaner water reaches the river.

It's science.

 

[runkpanole]

Might have worked with a little editing.

Yeah, autocorrect is a bitch.

 

[MitchLL]

[inward.="jamesvanderwulf, post: 11237995, member: 44366"]
Have you ever tried to pull a 24 row planter through a ditch? I didn't think so...
[/QUOTE]
You know damn well that the first pass on a field planting task is you start by the road and work inward.
So that first trip down the field only has to be 4-6' into the ditch.

I was born and raised on a farm. I know how shit works.

Spew your bullshit someplace else. Or, I can continue to embarrass you.
Your call?

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

So the wetland is there to capture the run off. The plants in the wetland absorb the excess nutrients before cleaner water reaches the river.

It's science.

I understand science. I went to private school. This would be like retro fitting every building and home in Florida with hurricane proof walls. It would actually be easier...

 

[The Tradition]

I understand science. I went to private school. This would be like retro fitting every building and home in Florida with hurricane proof walls. It would actually be easier...

How hard is it to create a drainage ditch along the waterway adjacent to your farm and plant some water-loving, heavy-feeding plants in there? Only when there's heavy rain will there be spillover into the river, and it'll be cleaner.

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

[inward.="jamesvanderwulf, post: 11237995, member: 44366"]
Have you ever tried to pull a 24 row planter through a ditch? I didn't think so...

You know damn well that the first pass on a field planting task is you start by the road and work inward.
So that first trip down the field only has to be 4-6' into the ditch.

I was born and raised on a farm. I know how shit works.

Spew your bullshit someplace else. Or, I can continue to embarrass you.
Your call?
[/QUOTE]
You're only embarrassing yourself.

So that first trip down the field only has to be 4-6' into the ditch.

So you farmed the road ditches where you come from? Do you have waterways that run straight, parallel to the roads? This is why you're FOS. Areas that are prone to run off are left grassy, you bail the grassy areas.

 

[Jerome Silberman]

Is that why so many remove waterways and plant row crops beyond fencelines and even into a portion of the ditches?

Yeah, I don't believe you.

I didn't say all, and at the scale of farming in Iowa a healthy mix of people that don't care mixed with those that might be ignorant is more than enough to do serious damage.

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

Mitch, does it look like we are farming ditches to you. Dumb azz...

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

See those 200 foot wide buffers? Try to plant those and see what happens...

 

[Tenacious E]

Besides sending National Guard troops to the border, sounds like you're sending your runoff to the Gulf Coast region.

View embedded media

 

[RollingBallofButcherKnives]

As long as you can get cheap questionable meat its all ok then?

Fertilizers and pesticides for your soy burger JR. Not all meat’s fault…

 

[globalhawk]

Fertilizers and pesticides for your soy burger JR. Not all meat’s fault…

Soybeans create manure?

 

[RollingBallofButcherKnives]

Soybeans create manure?

The fertilizers and pesticides used to grow corn and soybeans also make it to the rivers but you knew that….

 

[TheCainer]

How long has that been happening?

Too long?

 

[globalhawk]

The fertilizers and pesticides used to grow corn and soybeans also make it to the rivers but you knew that….

Of course. Just like you knew you were making a snarking comment as well.

 

[RollingBallofButcherKnives]

Of course. Just like you knew you were making a snarking comment as well.

Ah, white knighting for JR. Got it.

 

[globalhawk]

Ah, white knighting for JR. Got it.

Not at all. Calling a spade a spade.

 

[The Tradition]

Not at all. Calling a spade a spade.

That's racist.

 

[globalhawk]

That's racist.

Shut up.