Making common cause
An editorial in Thursday's Tribune supports The Nature Conservancy's Living Lands and Waters Campaign. So, to his credit, does Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.
But none of that is as important, probably, as the fact that Utah Agriculture Commissioner Leonard Blackham also supports the effort to preserve the wild and/or agricultural use of millions of acres of private land in the state as a guard against the pollution, loss of wildlife and other consequences of unchecked residential and commercial development.
Blackham, like many others in agriculture, are coming to realize that they must make common cause with those who favor protecting the environment, or both of their causes will be swept away by pavement and ranchettes. Land preservation programs, including the conservation easements the Conservancy plans to buy with part of the $43 million in public and private funds, are one way to preserve agriculture as a relatively low-impact use of land.
Others include some enforcement of the anti-trust laws that would better allow small-scale operations to sell their crops and livestock and profitable prices and more local marketing, which the state is aiding through its Utah's Own program.
-- George Pyle
But none of that is as important, probably, as the fact that Utah Agriculture Commissioner Leonard Blackham also supports the effort to preserve the wild and/or agricultural use of millions of acres of private land in the state as a guard against the pollution, loss of wildlife and other consequences of unchecked residential and commercial development.
Blackham, like many others in agriculture, are coming to realize that they must make common cause with those who favor protecting the environment, or both of their causes will be swept away by pavement and ranchettes. Land preservation programs, including the conservation easements the Conservancy plans to buy with part of the $43 million in public and private funds, are one way to preserve agriculture as a relatively low-impact use of land.
Others include some enforcement of the anti-trust laws that would better allow small-scale operations to sell their crops and livestock and profitable prices and more local marketing, which the state is aiding through its Utah's Own program.
-- George Pyle
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home