Thanks for highlighting positive side of farming

I should have responded weeks ago to Todd Dorman's Feb. 23 column “Taking pride in the ‘City of 5 Smells.'?” It's amazing to read how effectively he uses humor to present an entirely different point of view.

Thus, as an involved farm wife, I wish to applaud Dorman for providing information correcting the erroneous conception of “The City of Five Smells.”

Basically, it's agriculture, the farm route of products, to quote Dorman: “raising, harvesting, processing, milling, toasting, grinding and shipping products to people all over the world who need them.”

Hopefully, it creates a realization that there would be no metro Cedar Rapids as known today without those actions. Thanks for conveying the idea that farmers are an asset to the community.

I also would like to convey “kudos” to Orlan Love for his March 9 column “Nutrient levels falling in some Iowa rivers.”

He highlighted that landowners have been increasing implementation of conservation practices and fertilizer management. This is having a positive effect on reducing concentration levels to reduce the nitrate hitching a ride to the Gulf of Mexico dead zone.

He explained all aspects of the problem, which helps urban dwellers understand how it all came about and what is being done to alleviate the problem.

I would like to express thanks to your columnists on behalf of farmers and the interest of all invested in the agricultural interests. We appreciate The Gazette's reporting of the positive side of farm news.

Grace Zimmerman

Anamosa