While you are making plans to earn a living from your property other people are making plans to interfere with that right. They might include the EPA, USFWS, Corps, State Health Department and the NRCS to name a few.

In preparation for the coming season you need to be aware and informed of the goals and objectives of all the regulators with whom you will be dealing. You also need to be aware of any federations, societies, clubs, and other nature groups that claim to have an interest in your private property.

You may want to study your FSA maps and review a few of the terms that refer to your operation. These include: HEL and its approved conservation practices; wetland - what it is and what functions it performs; buffer zone - what is it and who gets to use it; alternative conservation system (ACS); basic conservation system (BCS); resource management system (RMS); conservation management system (CMS); conservation treatment unit (CMU); cultural resources - objects that have scientific, historical or archaeological value; conservation impacts - differences may be expressed by narrative, quantitative, visual or other means; concurrence - agreement of all parties; field office technical guide (FOTG); field office computing system (FOCS); and the list goes on. (If you have stayed with me you get an A+.)

Next you might want to examine some definitions: Environmental Assessment (EA); Environmental Evaluation (EE); Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); frequently cropped wetland; endangered species; hydric soil; hydrophytic vegetation; long duration; manipulation - the removal of woody vegetation, including stems and stumps, on a wetland; minimal effect, mitigation, natural area, natural resource and many other terms. Study the Clean Water Act which includes all interstate waters and interstate wetlands.

Hope you are still reading...Now, who asked the private property owner to believe the government wanted out of agriculture? It would appear they wanted to regulate or mandate agriculture without paying for it. How do we continue to produce the highest quality product for the least money while we’re up to our eyeballs in mandates?

Private property owners are required to maintain pollution centers (called wetlands) which through plant and animal activities produce impure carbons forming organic compounds in combination with hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, creating the largest methane gas plant known to mankind. Native Americans called it Marsh Gas.

Back to land use. How many individuals, government agencies and organizations are standing at the farmyard gate? Each one has a vision, agenda or perception of this commodity producing factory. They want to control each unit and the people who own them. Agency personnel are paid with taxpayer dollars to give their perception of the future. Who owns the crystal ball? Today’s markets are based on perception of world weather and what farmers are going to plant. It was once said as the farmer goes so goes the USA.

Perhaps it’s time for a reality check and eliminate some of those at the gate. Maybe some could go home and check their own gate.