Selected Articles from the LAND Newsletter

President's Report - Easements and Conservation Slogans

By Don Berge, LAND President

Catchy phrases and slogans are found everywhere these days it seems. Businesses try to lure us into purchasing new products by catching our eye and imagination. Politicians attempt to instill a particular image by using graphics to portray themselves in the best position possible. Government bureaucrats also portray their programs to be as “American as apple pie.” Let’s review the latter.

Easements are being marketed like never before. In the 60’s and 70’s they were portrayed as simply leaving property as is. The normal farming practices were to be allowed as usual with no additional drainage or burning of grassy areas. This would benefit the environment adequately according to their presentations.

Today, “normal” has a new meaning and the attempt at being a good neighbor has all been forgotten. Just recently a ND property owner explained to LAND that he must plug a drain even though he has farmed this property for 37 years with Farm Service Agency (FSA) approval. It also was disclosed that the US Fish and Wildlife Service also had earlier denied this individual’s local rural water system from burying water lines producing additional financial burdens.

In light of this latest example with history as our guide, let’s look at these new easements and their slogans: CREP—farm the best and buffer the rest; Conservation Security Program - farm the best and alternatives for the rest. This all seems fine until you observe that these areas that they are attempting to control are the most productive soils we have on our property.

Let’s not fall for the easy money when we could have much more.

And by the way, let’s tell our elected leaders what the true slogan should be for all easements: “The easement holders have gotten the best and we farmers have the rest!”