Comments on: Burns are necessary for agriculture

By: they dont love me like they should

they dont love me like they should — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:38:03 +0000

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By: MikeHunt

MikeHunt — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:28:08 +0000

I’m jumping into the fray also - copying my response from another post on this site.****

And which species of ground-dwelling birds are right on schedule to begin nesting precisely on May 31? Yet another absurd response - because, again, there are no scientifically-proven or true ecological benefits achieved by open burning. It’s an outdated practice that wastes valuable biomass material that could be used for other purposes (i.e., fuel & heat), or could be converted to necessary compost & organic supplements. And, it’s a practice that generates tremendous amounts of particulate matter and carbon compounds which further degrades our shared atmosphere, and further diminishes the health of many people.

I would grant that a limited amount of open burning might be justified (say once per year, over a 1-month period)…however, in order to qualify for a permit there must be very stringent requirements to be met. And, the permit fees must be scaled accordingly (say more than 10 fold), in order to cover the external costs of degraded air, increase in respiratory problems, increased fire department costs, increase in insurance premiums, etc.

By: toaaronuu

toaaronuu — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:36:28 +0000

Still a bunch of jerks.

By: joyceforthree

joyceforthree — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:57:52 +0000

Speaking of unintended consequences. You should all read the story about Dewey Bridge burning the front page of this paper, especially the comments on page 9A by Mrs. Thomas. We lost not only a historic landmark, but a part of all of our lives because of these same kind of people and their New York ways. I think the New York DR. just stepped in it, and I am sure he doesn’t own a pair of hip boots.

By: muleshoe

muleshoe — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 03:53:14 +0000

Thank you Tonya. I don’t think that the good Dr. realizes that he is threatening our way of life. I don’t really think that he understands what his words mean to us. It’s probably just all academic to him. Just his way of showing his superiority by beating us into submission. I think his attitude just reflects that he was raised in a different culture. I know, because I have generations of my people in this ground, that there can be unintended consequences from words misspoken. His manner and attitude are as foreign to us as ours must be to him. We have a saying out here Doc. Don’t back a bear into his cave and then try to fight him. You’ll find that you are blocking his only way out.
It is clear to me that the Dr. intends to go ahead and push for a burn ban. That will hurt a lot of small farmers. The Dr. is right, the times they are “a changing”. There is a new breed taking over the ownership of our valley. They talk just to hear themselves talk. These are not thoughtful or deliberate men, and they have much to learn about this land, and that is my last word on this subject.

By: Tonya

Tonya — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:24:30 +0000

Oh I wanted to add, despite disagreeing with dcale I am dismayed by the name calling, etc.

I CAN understand where these feelings are coming from, definitely. I don’t think, dcale, that you can comprehend the wasps nest you are poking.

We treasure our heritage in the Grand Valley, and we are fiercely protective of the farmers’ right to do what they must to earn a living, so they don’t have to sell out to the developers who build the Mc Mansions and ruin whatever charm is left here.

So that I think is where the vitriol comes from. There is no excuse for it, but I offer a friendly explanation.

By: Willis_Leon_Johnson

Willis_Leon_Johnson — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:05:52 +0000

Of course, we could always make an effort to learn your address and plan our burning depending on the wind direction.

“Hitekredneck - I have been in many agricultural commmunities where burning was not a means to ANY end (call it restoring the soil or removing weeds, or whatever) - and many of these farms still survive despite all the rules and regulations and reasons that they should not be able to survive.”

And you left because?

Irritate too many or your “customers” and lost too much business?

You probably wouldn’t like either my doctor or my dentist, they both burn weeds on their smaller acreages. They both seem to stay very busy, professionally speaking of course…

It’s the “descended from monkeys” syndrome?

By: Tonya

Tonya — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:37:15 +0000

OK I’ll weigh in because this is the “hot” thread. I agree with the original letter writers.

As a proud tree hugger I would like to say that not all environmentalists are so closed minded to not see that burning has its benefits. Even environmental benefits. When done right burning can enrich soil and greatly reduce the need for herbicides and pesticides.

Do I love the smoke, no. but it is not THAT bad, and the burn season is limited. And at least it is organic material being burned. I consider it a very small price to pay for living in a beautiful valley that is so enriched by many small farmers and ranchers, not to mention the incredible wealth of fresh picked produce that fills the farmer’s markets and roadside stands season after season.

By: dcale

dcale — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:27:51 +0000

Hitekredneck - I have been in many agricultural commmunities where burning was not a means to ANY end (call it restoring the soil or removing weeds, or whatever) - and many of these farms still survive despite all the rules and regulations and reasons that they should not be able to survive. I think you miss the point about opening your mind to other possibilities. Like it or not, GJ is going to grow - neither you nor I can stop that. What we have to do is evolve with the change at hand - and understand, it’s not just old GJ at stake here.

(Muleshoe - I couldn’t possibly validate your state of oppression.)

By: grandmasix

grandmasix — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:18:28 +0000

Dr. David Cale, with offices in both Delta and Grand Junction, I am sure that you were just waiting to spring on us the fact that you are a DR. We know. Your advice is based on old news. The experts now say that we are entering an Ice Age. Of course, you and yours have, in the past, advocated mercury as a cure, so experts are a dime a dozen, as far as we are concerned. Since you hail from such places as the volunteer state (we don’t want you to volunteer) and New York, you probably don’t understand the agricultural heritage of our valley that goes back many generations. We don’t want all the land swallowed up by subdivisions or other development. Do you really believe that your advice is made more palatable by your arrogance? Filling the landfills and poisoning our ground water (we don’t all use city water) is not warranted. Just for your medical journal, my Grandfather farmed, and burned for 83 years and lived to be 101 years old. No lung problems, and he was the one out in the field doing the burning, so don’t be so pretentious.