Nothing could be further from the truth. The Agricultural Industry Advisory Committee on Nutrient Management sincerely believes its legislation will produce effective and economical benefits for water quality earlier than restrictive, mandatory regulations imposed by surrounding states. We believe the State Nutrient Management Program, enabled by this bill, will effectively surpass EPA mandates in half the time with substantially fewer resources. The nostalgic view of American agriculture collides with the current public mind-set creating an image of willful neglect and disregard for the environment. How quickly we have forgotten the times the American farmer was held up as the example of hard work, honesty and integrity.
Farmers are proud of their efforts to produce economical quantities of quality food.
We are irritated to be the targets of uninformed journalism. Most of us are facing the third year in a row for economic returns below the cost of production. And there is little interest from the next generation in returning to the farm. Given opportunities for employment and security off the farm, we can scarcely blame them. With political leaders touting economic development, let us not forget the importance farmers, and not just their farmland, play in making Delaware a great place to live.