Farmers are going to sue the EPA over Bay Cleanup

[dfran]

Jan 9, 11:05 AM EST


Farm group: Chesapeake Bay plan could ruin farmers

By RAY HENRY
Associated Press
 
 
ATLANTA (AP) -- The nation's largest farm lobbying group says a federal plan meant to keep pollution from running into the Chesapeake Bay could ruin agriculture in the area.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman said Sunday that his group is preparing a lawsuit over plans announced by the Environmental Protection Agency, which he says threaten to "starve agriculture" out of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Speaking at a national Farm Bureau convention, Stallman said farmers support clean water. But he said state governments, not the EPA, should decide how to regulate farming practices.

EPA officials outlined the restoration plan last month. Farm and urban runoff, air pollution and sewer overflows have left the 200-mile-long bay with oxygen-depleted "dead zones."

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[micker]

Agriculture is ruining this country.farming is just like anything else BIG BUSINESS. Just do a google search and see how much your local farmer is recieving every year from the feds and state govt. seems to me like they are nothing more than terrorists on tractors 

[coggi]

Agriculture is ruining this country.farming is just like anything else BIG BUSINESS. Just do a google search and see how much your local farmer is recieving every year from the feds and state govt. seems to me like they are nothing more than terrorists on tractors 

Lol terrorists on tractors...

[beautiful swimmers]

 Farmers are not terrorists, Its the middleman that has more
control of the prices. The farmer takes all the chances and
the middleman reaps the bountiful harvests.
 The farmers have taken all the nutrients out of the soil and
must replace them with fertilizers and use pesticides. Without
them the harvests would be fruitless. Many farms are for sale
for development use. Kids today do not want to be farmers after
seeing all the long days and hard work. You would have to invest
millions to start a farm and depend on nature for profits. This just
doesn't happen any more. When all the farmers sell out then watch
the food prices soar!

[jrccrab]

Farmers are not terrorists, Its the middleman that has more
control of the prices. The farmer takes all the chances and
the middleman reaps the bountiful harvests.
 The farmers have taken all the nutrients out of the soil and
must replace them with fertilizers and use pesticides. Without
them the harvests would be fruitless. Many farms are for sale
for development use. Kids today do not want to be farmers after
seeing all the long days and hard work. You would have to invest
millions to start a farm and depend on nature for profits. This just
doesn't happen any more. When all the farmers sell out then watch
the food prices soar!

You are exactly right. I see it where i live all the time.

[ChrisS]

Farms arent killing the bay........Urban sprawl and runoff is.....but, you local government wants the farms gone, so they can build more houses for more taxes.

100 houses on a hundred acres pays more taxes than a farm on 100 acres......so, put the farms out of business and build more houses. Thats what the Government wants to do.

[fishingtom]

It's all fun and games until Tomatoes are 10.00 a pound and green beans are a quarter a piece...

[micker]

i grow most of my veggies myself without chemicals. :)everyone should try planting some sort of garden grown without chemicals.everything tastes 100% better.

[micker]

It's all fun and games until Tomatoes are 10.00 a pound and green beans are a quarter a piece...

and maybe instead of 15% ethanol in your fuel they can make it 50%.

[Mr. Ray III]

Agriculture is ruining this country.farming is just like anything else BIG BUSINESS. Just do a google search and see how much your local farmer is recieving every year from the feds and state govt. seems to me like they are nothing more than terrorists on tractors 

 

As Chris said, its housing that is ruining the bay.  People want a green yard 24/7.  So how do they do it?  Chemicals.  More then farms, I promise you that.  

Everyone should watch this video, and at the end, about the chicken farmer.  He makes some good points and provides a different perspective.  \

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m1CgQhahcg

[flounderpounder]

and maybe instead of 15% ethanol in your fuel they can make it 50%.

its only 10%...where do u get yours?

[micker]

its only 10%...where do u get yours?

15% is coming...been approved by the epa for a while now.

[Crabby Captn John]

It is stupid enough at 10%. By putting food in the gas tank the price of food and fuel goes up. Only a fool thinks 10% is good and anyone that thinks 15% is OK should be committed!

[madcrabber1113]

Its all killing the bay.There is no one group to blame.I personally use no fertilizer and I grow most of my own food.My business has been regulated out of business as many other people I know.I plan on moving when my kids are older and can make their own decisions.The only group that I see not being regulated as far as run off from fertilizer,pesticides etc. is the farmers which my family used to do and the private citizen.It's all politics and I personally have had enough.The only way to control it is force people from living and working anywhere near the bay,creeks and rivers,as well as cutting catch limits like the Rockfish back in the 80's.