Farmers As Innovators
Part six in the series ‘Reflections On Water’
In between the environmental and political forces are farmers.
Farmers must eek out a living from within a volatile regulatory environment. Farming is difficult — many professionals have likened it to gambling your life-savings every year.
Regularly, people in urban areas criticize farming interests as subsidized and wealthy. But more often than not takers; they are risk takers. Over the past five that years I’ve been following these issues, ALL of the most significant innovations in environmental restoration and water conservation that I’ve seen were originally implemented by farmers or ranchers.
Admittedly, the farmers made huge leaps often in partnership with government agencies or universities, but progressive leaps nonetheless.
I have no problem with rational subsidies, because I believe a domestic food supply is a national resource, as is the culture and economy that comes with it. Which would you rather see, almond trees or gated communities?
Farmers are truly are on the front lines of this issue.
Originally published at Weyland Photo
Editors note: ‘Reflections On Water’ is a weekly series of thoughts and observations about water usage in drought-hit California. Part one was Wasting Water. Part two was California’s Fish Economy. Part three was War Of Ideals. Part four was Digging Tunnels, Mining Votes. Part five was The New Gold Rush.
Follow photojournalist Nathan Weyland on Instagram and Twitter.
