Farm 'pollution' fails the smell test

I am writing in regards to the article "USU scientist dissects murky air" (Jan 21). The article indicated that agricultural sources — dairy and livestock farms — were to blame for 50 percent to 70 percent of the bad air in Cache Valley.

Get real!

The scientist who did the work has left Utah State University. I wonder if the story was checked for facts, instead of just his theory.

Here are my facts. I was a student at USU 40 years ago when they had more cows and agriculture than people. In fact, there were farms that dotted the landscape throughout northern Utah. I do not remember ever having smog in the Cache Valley or Salt Lake where I grew up. Fog yes, not smog. Going to Logan this past weekend, we saw relatively fewer amounts of agriculture than years ago along the northern Wasatch Front, but the air was really bad.

There are many more people and cars there now, so it is hard to see where the reduction in agriculture could cause bad air now when it was not a cause before.

We have lived in Utah County for 25 years. The number of dairies has diminished to almost none. Agriculture land has produced a fine crop of homes and businesses, which has brought in cars and other necessary means of getting around. The pollution here is worse than ever. A scale would not balance out the reduction in agriculture and addition of pollution.

Agriculture is singled out as a source of many of our ills in this state and nation. Farmers and ranchers are an easy target. Yet, they are the ultimate environmentalists. Without sound environmental practices they would soon be out of business. Farmers and ranchers cannot afford to waste dollars. Farmers and ranchers cannot afford to waste time and land.

I would appreciate, as a reader of the Deseret News, if you would contact the Utah State Farm Bureau Federation for the facts. They will give you a different perspective of farms and where our food comes from.

We have, in this nation, the safest and most affordable food in the world, thanks to the high-tech practices of our highly educated farmers and ranchers.

There are many activities around the state revolving around farming and ranching that would make great stories. After all, we all eat and enjoy the fruits of the labors of our great farmers and ranchers in Utah.

Belva Parr is the women's chair for the Utah County Farm Bureau.