Source: Kling, C. (2019, August 25). Polluting Farmers Should Pay. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/25/opinion/water-quality-agriculture.html?rref=collection/timestopic/Water&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection
Summary: This article explains how water is being exploited by farmers across the US. Farmers use fertilizer to produce crops at a faster rate, but these fertilizers can be harmful to our health. People have started to get sick because there is fertilizer in our drinking water, and the only finger to point is at the farmers. With natural waterways being used by farmers to water crops, there needs to be regulations put in place to store “used” water. This exploitation of their natural water rights can get these farmers into legal trouble. Without harsher legislation surrounding natural sources, these fertilizers can become a huge issue for the US.
Reaction/Connection: By polluting waterways, farmers are destroying each others crops and the drinking water of many Americans. Water is valuable and is needed for survival, which is why the open right to water is not to be taken lightly. There needs to be regulation on how much can be used and where the runoff goes. As farmers continue to water their crops, there becomes an increasing amount of runoff, usually containing pesticides or fertilizers. The US must pass laws in order to combat this issue otherwise it could continue to grow until we are unable to save any of our fresh water.
This article is really interesting, and you bring up a good point. The current ways farmers are using their land is entirely unsustainable. This has also just begun relatively recently too. I agree that regulation must be put into place to prevent farmers from harming their land, other farmers, and the environment. What action do you think the farmers should take in order to stop this? By that I mean, they’re doing it out of necessity rather than for the hell of it, but what should they do instead?
I agree that having clean water is essential, but I think it is important to acknowledge that farmers have to use fertilizers and take advantage of the resources available in order to be competitive and make a profit. Do you have any specific ideas for laws that would combat the contamination of drinking water? It is definitely a difficult problem to solve because it is so difficult to control runoff from farms.
I agree with your thoughts on this topic. I really liked how you gave a specific area where regulations need to be made within this system. I would like to know more about how the fertilizer gets into our drinking water.
I agree that it is very unethical for these farmers to be exploiting running water. Especially if this water is going directly to the public, that is a massive problem. Do you think this is similar to how fertilizer from farms in the Midwest made its way into the Gulf of Mexico?
I agree with your views on that the US government should pass laws that combat the overuse of these pesticides and over watering of crops, but it would require support of the public. As of right now, people expect for their loaf of bread to cost two bucks, and not four. The only way that government will be willing to do this would be for people to start paying more for their food, which would allow for the farmers to still make a profit given the current farming technology and practices.
I agree with your idea of needing a regulation of the amount of water being used and where the runoff goes. Do you think the government should be involved in this?