The
Editor:
Saskatchewan farmers and ranchers faced years of depressed grains
prices, drought, canola products rejected by world markets because
of its genetically engineered characteristics, grasshopper plagues,
Chronic Wasting Disease in elk and deer herds, and recent rejection
of Canadian beef and lamb products because of BSE.
Farmers have diversified their operations and products only to find
promised rewards snatched away.
Smaller cattle and hog producers see their tax dollars supporting
mega-livestock operations that produce cheaper, but inferior, animals,
while putting them out of business.
“Solutions” created by governments and agri-industry have
not been sustainable. Many undermined the stability of the agricultural
economy, the quality of our agricultural products and of our environment.
Genetically Engineered crops, reliance on chemical fertilizers, herbicides
and pesticides to counter the effects of large-scale mono-culture cropping
practices, the regular use of hormones and sub-therapeutic doses of
antibiotics to keep over-crowded animals alive and safe from devastating
disease conditions have not been real solutions. The consumer increasingly
rejects the contaminated meats that are produced in this manner. These “solutions” enter
our soils, leach into our watersheds , underground aquifers and municipal
water systems.
Diseased and rendered animal parts are fed to plant-eating animals
and we get BSE infections and the horrific impact on our international
trade and reputation. Monsanto “solutions” barr Canola
products from world market places. The imminent release of GE wheat
designed for more Monsanto profits, now threatens our wheat markets
as well.
We need a “Green” vision and leadership to bring our rural
and urban society together to create sustainable standards and practices
that value the health of our food, land, water and air, focussed to
producing top quality, world class products by methods that earn recognition
from environmentally conscious people around the world who will come
to know that “Saskatchewan” means “Quality”.
Gerald Regnitter, New Green Alliance Candidate for Saskatchewan
Rivers Constituency
Box 289 Christopher Lake, Sask. S0J 0N0 (306) 982-3614 email: friendlyforest@inet2000.com
A letter to the Editor by Gerald Regnitter, August 16, 2022