Water and Weeds

Water and Weeds

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
Farmers’ and ranchers’ ability to remain in production often depends on being able to use the types of farm practices that would be prohibited if EPA denies a permit for them. For example, building a fence across a ditch, applying fertilizer or pesticides, or pulling weeds could require a federal permit. The proposed rule, in effect, would give EPA veto authority over a farmer’s or rancher’s ability to operate. Gov. Otter has a very strong opinion about all of this federal meddling and I asked him if there was a way to rein in the EPA. I used the analogy that there like an Idaho weed, give them a little water and they grow uncontrollably. “Not only that but they grow like those weeds and they are more noxious and more invasive. They are worse than the worst cheat grass you have ever seen or any other noxious and invasive weed. They have to create some kind of a problem, they have to create some kind of a crisis in order to exist and to increase their budgets, in order to bring more people on for control of the citizens of the United States. That is their whole deal. Create a crisis in order to create a larger agency or a new agency in order to control.

 

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