I wouldn't have as much of a problem with DUC if they were not so ignorant to the current situation. Consistently repeating that wetlands are decreasing and in danger, while the reality is most producers in the pothole region are facing challenging conditions due to excess moisture and an increase in wetlands. It only illustrates how important it is for us to stand up publicly and defend responsible water management much like is done for the use of pesticides etc.
One of the largest frustrations about DU is that they completely ignore the devastating effects non managed wetlands are having on surrounding farmland. It is no secret that farmland close to wetlands has simply been destroyed due to excess moisture and an increase in soluble salts in the soil profile. One can go so far to say that this is also destroying bio-diversity, as in these areas nothing is growing! But yet their solutions do not include managing the water! Which is in reality the only long term viable solution with the best out come!
Their goal is to influence as many acres as they can. Whether it be through ownership, land titles or forage programs. All of their programs have some sort of stipulation. The worst part is that they even fail to implement some of their own practices. I was at a workshop on managing salinity and DU had a 20 min presentation on how they were trying to establish salt tolerant forage mixes in these areas. Not only were the results disastrous, the methods they used were as well! They had a hard time seeding or establishing anything because the site was way too wet! They also used 4x the normal seeding rate!
One of the saddest parts is that DU sits on the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops along with many of our farm business partners. (
http://sustainablecrops.ca/images/members_list.pdf)
What do you think they are doing on there? Well! Most likely advocating for the protection of wetlands! Why would this be so bad?! Well just imagine JRI, ADM, you name it now include in their message that their products are 'sustainable' because they support DU's agenda and the protection of wetlands. Now our industry partners are against us.
It makes my stomach churn because none of this has anything to do with sustainability. It is all about image and you can match whatever message you like. However in the countryside farms are suffering and losing their ability to produce grain because we are not actually tackling the root of the problem.
We have great opportunities, but we need people with vision to develop a framework so that we can have functional watersheds that provide resilient farmland, flood control, nutrient retention and habitat. A framework that respects our needs and not solely those of DU. All so that we can strengthen our rural farm communities in which success and wealth are large drivers.