Letters to the Editor

Conservation bond

Thank you, County Commissioners, for allowing the Land and Water Conservation Bond to be on the November ballot. Giving farmers and citizens of this county an opportunity to support each other for our future is what the bond is all about. It also makes economic sense.

The changes that have occurred in our state the last half century are serving as a wake-up call. In 1950, 70 percent of the food Montanans consumed was produced in the state; today that figure is 10 percent. Most food products now consumed in Montana travel an average of 1,500 miles and are handled by an estimated 50 people prior to consumption. Take for example, here in the Flathead Valley, during the '50s, we had numerous milk producing dairy farms every direction out of Kalispell. Now there are only two remaining dairies. Their milk is trucked to Bozeman to be processed while the milk we buy in the stores is trucked into the county from Great Falls and other places.

It makes economic sense to preserve and protect the farm land and open spaces. Local family farmers are natural stewards of the land. Food produced and marketed locally is a win-win deal. Everyone benefits from it. We have become too dependent on out-of-state and foreign food producers plus the large corporate food suppliers.

The decreased farm lands and open spaces not only impact the availability of food products grown and marketed here, but also impact the water quality.

In rural subdivisions conventional septic systems are not adequate for removing nitrates and pathogens where soils and/or ground water conditions are marginally suitable and where septic system densities are too high. The water quality in this valley is the most important asset we have. This bond is a small price to pay in order to help protect our water.

The people who feel blessed by our creator and cherish this area are passionate. They are ready to do something. Their thoughts and actions for the future go beyond the "here and now."

Let's join with them and vote YES for the Land and Water Conservation Bond in November.

JoLynn Yenne

Bigfork