We have reached the point in the debate where we are fighting over the control of 1 percent of North Dakota's total land mass. This land is privately owned and the taxes are paid by the owner based on a soil study and ag productivity rating. Let us work the math. According to USFWS, 2.25 million acres in ND are wetlands (5% of the total land mass), with 450,000 acres of wetlands "unprotected" (20% of total wetlands). Ag interests suggest small areas one acre or less which can be farmed six out of ten years are not wetlands. Mike McEnroe with USFWS states those areas represents 80% of wetland basins in North Dakota.

Enter the environmental position that wetlands are essential because they purify the water supply, recharge the aquifers and provide flood control. They want the American people to believe that 200 bushels per acre corn ground should be turned back to a swamp. USFWS bring to the table the idea of beauty, habitat, recreation, and water quality. The present federal policy is to create 100,000 acres of wetlands each year until the year 2002.

Mother Nature supplies only so much water on an annual basis. About 40% normally runs off or drains away. ND has an average pan evaporation of 30 inches. Each wetland or basin is an ecosystem with a primary function to provide water and food. All living things require water. Take the 80% of wetland basins, one acre or less in size and farmed six out of ten years having little or no wetland function or value remaining. They have been this way since homestead days. When the last spring frost averages May 17 and the small basin is dried up by June 25th (in four out of ten years), that's a dead (or at the least dormant) ecosystem.

If we have 80% of wetlands farmed six out of ten years and a guaranteed death rate in the remaining four years, someone has placed or is trying to place a tremendous burden on the remaining systems.

This is the place where the debate starts to heat up and get out of hand. We have allowed the wetland issue to expand to border strips, buffer zones, CRP, tree plantings and even road construction. EPA is so involved in ND agriculture that our Ag Commissioner and an EPA official in Washington, DC are on a first name basis.

The habitat issue is a major concern to private property owners as it appears to be the largest of all land grab efforts. I mention this because a wetland by itself and within itself can't do much without a surrounding area of support.

The ag community has suggested short term leases on wildlife production areas like the state water bank program. The wildlife people say they will run out of money. Does this mean wetlands are overvalued? We provide a tax break for USFWS owned lands. Those who contribute money to Delta Waterfowl or Nature Conservancy get a tax break. Can agriculture continue the free lunch program?

Is it possible the day has come for the environmental and wildlife communities to pay their own way and compete in the marketplace? The tax paid regulator continues to become a policy maker and writer of law. Good examples are the 1985 Farm Bill and the 1986 Reformulation of Garrison Diversion. I think it's about time for agriculture to draw a line in the sand. It sounds easy. But it's not.

There are many thoughts as we continue to debate this issue. But let's not forget the real issue....Control of your private property. LAND will continue to keep that in mind as we continue the debate.