Readers Write.

Glenn Mitchell, Managing Editor Morning Star, last Sunday

1. The site would remain, well largely green… not according to preliminary development plan.

2. …and always has been used in recent memory, for cow food. Site is intensely cropped and irrigated, produces enough forage for about 130 cow/calf units for a year.

3. …you know, those beasts that spew methane…as does Mr. Mitchell and the rest of all living creatures (at most organisms bigger than an amoeba).

4. …the Coldstream Ranch,…obviously has calculated that they can afford to forgo the hay field…New owners have apparently said they are not interested in consolidation of parcels, who know their intentions and why are they interested in selling this prime hayfield?

A Few Additional Thoughts on Why this Site is important on a More Global Level:

1. large amounts of carbon are stored in the soils e.g. 100 tonnes/ha or 5,000 tonnes on the 120 ac parcel – this is the basis of the carbon trading program being developed all over the world

2. crops, including hay and corn, growing on soils take up CO2 from the atmosphere and release oxygen – the preliminary development plan shows most of the developed portion of the site covered by hard surfaces

3. with parking lots come cars and the burning of fossil fuels and an increase in global warming – 1000 parking spaces!

4. hard surfaces result in more runoff, whereas these crop lands enhance water quality due to their natural filtration capacity – a wetland used to exist in the depression and the remnant is still there

5. the value of farmland is increasing all over the world because of ethanol production which reduces the use of fossil fuels – this site has been used for corn in the recent past (part of crop rotation likely)

6. people want control of their food quality – they don’t want hormones and pesticides and so many farmers are turning to organic beef production which is becoming very lucrative - paving over this land eliminates the potential to use this prime site for this in the future

7. the burning of fossil fuels is considered the major contributor to climate change - it is well documented that growing food close to home is an important component of environmental sustainability because it reduces food transportation costs

I believe these things are important to the people of this community …

Paul Christy