PROTECTING OUR WATER AND AIR

JACK D. FORBES

Our water supply is being threatened by runoff from chemical fertilizers as well as from pesticides. Our air is contaminated with airborne dust from farming-to-the-fence cultivation as well from pesticides. We need to do something to gradually improve conditions, especially in the close vicinity of towns and cities.

What I propose is that we establish "organic circles" around our populated areas. In these "organic circles" we will ask farmers, voluntarily, to begin the conversion to organic agriculture using biological pest-control and non-polluting fertilizers. We will also ask them to return to the sound agricultural practice of planting windbreaks of trees or hedgerows at appropriate intervals, so as to minimize dust erosion and volatility, as well as to provide bird sanctuary.

How will this come about? What I propose is that counties and cities share the cost of inducing farmers to go organic and to control dust movement. Financial and other inducements should be offered, such as property tax relief on all windbreaks and hedgerows, and actual cash payments for non-use of dangerous polluting chemicals.

Still further, cities and counties can help to facilitate the marketing of organic products by operating farmer's markets, by helping with the costs of start-up marketing, and by inducing area supermarkets to purchase locally-produced organic products.

There is little doubt but what the future is with organic vegetables and fruits. People are demanding safe food, and some of the chains are already beginning to stock organic produce. This trend can be encouraged, and should be encouraged, by local government.

Initially, at least, an area can be designated around each city and town where farmers will be offered financial and other inducements to convert to "good neighbor husbandry." The cost to the county and cities will be more than offset, in the long run, by the maintenance of a pure water supply and by the enhanced health of the population. In the short-run, however, a source of revenue will need to be found. Perhaps an increase in the sales tax on all non-organic produce might be a source of revenue, but I think that one needs first to calculate probable costs. That could come about by meetings with interested farmers, farmer's market managers, wholesalers, and other concerned parties.

I propose this plan as a step that we must take so that we do not end up like so many areas of the San Joaquin Valley, the Salinas Valley, and elsewhere where water supplies have become polluted and airborne allergies and illnesses are a serious problem. The early farmers understood that tree-rows and hedgerows are a necessary part of farming. They planted hundreds of miles of windbreaks to preserve their soil and maintain a blue sky. Tragically, agribusiness has ripped up those windbreaks or never planted them, and we are on the verge of becoming a Great Central Valley dust bowl laced with chemicals.

We can do something about it. Let's put our heads together and try!