Dear fellow Islanders. My name is William Visser. I am a third-generation farmer, and our family has been involved in farming in South Eastern P.E.I. for 65 years.
It is no secret that many Island crops have been under extreme drought stress in recent years and there has been much discussion about whether farmers should be allowed reasonable access to water. Please allow me to take you below the surface on the topic of water on P.E.I.
I’ll start with asking why? Why on this otherwise fertile island are producers of our food the only group on P.E.I. not allowed reasonable access to water for their crops?
I realize Islanders are passionate and diverse, but our water experts say we have plenty of annual recharge. Simple logic doesn’t add up. So, I turn to some who don’t support farm high-capacity wells to help me understand. Here are a few observations.
First of all, many Islanders simply aren’t directly impacted by drought and crop failure, nor are they familiar enough with ground water science to be really comfortable. So understandably the “safest” thing is to say is “no” to lifting the moratorium on wells for farmers.
To this I encourage all Islanders to find out more about P.E.I. water by visiting www.OnTheLevelPEI.ca to get more local information about Island water.
Then there are some people that understand the impact of crop failure and have reviewed the science but are still concerned, adamantly opposed even. I’m beginning to understand that this has more to do with mistrust of farmers, particularly of bigger farmers and processors, than our water supply. To this I say, fair point. Even though some in the industry may not like me to say it.
My sense is it’s this second point, which not many have come outright and publicly talked about that’s possibly the main reason we haven’t been able to move forward objectively.
I believe it’s important we be honest and talk about this.
I’ll be the first to admit that some of us in response to market pressures/opportunities expanded and deserve critique for some things we’ve done. In the past, as equipment got bigger, my brothers, father and I turned multiple small fields into a bigger field without proper erosion controls. (At the time, we hardly knew what they were or that we should have them.)
I’ll also admit we took the practice of leaving fields in pasture and hay for numerous years in a row out of our rotation. It would take several pages to explain exactly why but I ask you to trust me when I say there were as many good reasons as bad for these things.
Please hear me, I’m not implying farmers take ill-motivated shortcuts to get try get ahead. But I will say that unfortunately, circumstances (some beyond our control), and sometimes poor choices and lack of understanding have contributed to farmers being in negative news stories.
But can we be fair and acknowledge that in many other areas of our ever-changing society, we collectively and individually have had to make some good choices in response to some poor choices? What about the reduction of single use plastics, use of alternate energy sources, reduced waste and increased recycling, to name only a few?
There is a saying, “do the best you can until you know better, and when you know better, do better.” That is exactly what we’re striving for.
So, here is the truth as I see it. The concern that some farming practices on P.E.I. are not perfect is valid, and we need to continue to work to improve where we need to. But in fairness, that’s a separate issue. Let’s not hold farmers who need water now hostage any longer because some of us have made mistakes.
The concern for a healthy water supply for P.E.I. is 100 per cent valid and I believe we need to keep building on the science already done to continue to be confident it will not be jeopardized.
Are farmers more aware than ever that we need to continue to adapt and improve our practices? Yes, I sincerely believe this to be true.
Are there merits in continuing to work with watershed groups and others to identify areas that need improved management practices? Yes, I believe so, and in my experience, this has produced healthy outcomes.
Will Islanders support “responsible, safe” use of supplemental irrigation to sustainably produce food on P.E.I.? I would be grateful if you would! And I believe it would be bordering on irresponsible if we don’t! Again, I say the logic of singling out farmers doesn't add up.
Let’s talk honestly about real concerns and work together to improve what needs to be improved so P.E.I. continues to be known for what it is — The Food Island that is worth the trip to come and experience diversity in agriculture and other ways of life (bigger and smaller; organic and conventional farms) all working in harmony to make it one of the best places on earth live, work and visit.
William Visser is a third-generation farmer who lives in Orwell Cove.
