Protect land for future generations

Please remember that ownership of the earth does not mean permanent ownership as it does with disposable goods, such as clothing or autos.

Ownership of the earth is a generational commitment that necessitates heritage and preservation for descendants, be it your descendants or others. The most important thing about the present concept of ownership of land seems to be ignored; stewardship.

Stewardship is the employment of the most efficient conservation practices to preserve land so the land can produce more food to feed future generations. This means eliminating erosion of topsoil and chemical pollution of waterways and poisoning wildlife for short-term profits.

If our farmers are true stewards of the land, why is there such a great annual increase in the Mississippi Delta? Where does that land come from? Please, Iowa State, and Iowa farmers, inform me.

Remember, history tells us that the Sahara Desert was once a very productive land. What is it now? No one knows how it became what it is, but can we possibly be headed in the same direction?

If farmers who 'own” farms do not perform good stewardship practices and allow soil erosion of more than 0.25 tons per acre, do they deserve to own the land? Why should our taxes pay for subsidies for such abhorrence?

Merle Ries

Cedar Rapids