[AT] plow, now small towns

[Dean VP]

Herb:

Yep, rivers were used for purposes then that are totally unacceptable today.
And, I consider that GOOD progress. The town of Maurice's septic system
drained into the same river, not properly treated. Several years ago they
used Eminent Domain to capture some of our farm land to build a new Septic
Treatment facility. Now everything is up to code. 

The Federal Government is really leaning on the states to clean up the
confinement yard issues now. The Iowa State Department of Natural Resources
has issued new regulations to come into compliance with the federal Law.
That is having a big impact on Dairy and Larger feeder cattle operations.
That even extended all the way to Washington State as an immediate neighbor
to my wife's land back in Iowa was in real trouble trying to meet the new
Iowa regulations. My wife's father had tiled his land many, many years ago
and the neighbor's confinement yard runoff was getting into the tile system
and then, in turn, into a running creek, not properly leached. They had to
move or buy more adjacent land in order to satisfy the new regulations. They
made an offer on my wife's land that was just too good to turn down. We
accepted their offer, sold the land and re-invested it in other income
producing property. Fortunately, it increased the annual return by about a
factor of 4. Renting out farm land is not all that lucrative.

The first thing they had to do was tear out all of the tile and build Berms
along the creek. This allows the adjacent soil to provide the proper
leaching action before the fluids hit the creek.  Times have changed. And in
this case for the good I guess. 

Dean A. Van Peursem
Snohomish, WA 98290

Forbidden fruits create many jams!

www.deerelegacy.com

http://members.cox.net/classicweb/email.htm



-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Herbert Metz
Sent: Saturday, January 21, 2006 1:22 PM
To: AT at lists.antique-tractor.com
Subject: Re: [AT] plow, now small towns

Dean
Back in the 30's and 40's we had to cross the Arkansas River on the way to 
town.  When the river was very low, Dad would sometimes comment that the 
farmers out west (meaning western KS and eastern CO) had drained off (for 
irrigation) so much water  that there was hardly enough remaining to float 
the sewage downstream.  A couple decades later sewage treatment plants were 
required nationwide.  In the 60's we vacationed in CO several times, and 
enjoyed the Arkansas River around Leadville; it was clear, cold, fast, and 
three feet deep and hundred feet wide.   Previous to then, I was not sure 
whether Dad had been joking or was serious.
Herb

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