Farmers oppose aspects of Bay bill

Agricultural advocates Wednesday railed against federal legislation they say would impose such stringent storm water runoff standards on famers that many would be forced out of business.

The measure, SB 1816, among other things seeks to further regulate the leaching of nitrogen and phosphorous into waterways that flow to the Chesapeake Bay. Such nutrients harm the health of the Bay.

But officials at the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation's annual convention in Richmond Wednesday said the legislation will harm farmers by increasing their operational costs.

One specific concern for farmers is a provision in the bill that would establish a nitrogen and phosphorous trading program. Farm Bureau associate director of government relations Wilmer Stoneman likened that concept to federal cap-and-trade legislation intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"Farmers sell commodities. They can't pass costs on to consumers," Stoneman said. "The only thing we're going to have to give at the end of the day is taking farmers off their land."

Defending the legislation outside the farmers convention was J.R. Tolbert of Environment Virginia, who said the federal bill contains millions in grants available to farmers to "implement clean water strategies."

"We have the opportunity to take a new direction in bay restoration efforts," Tolbert said. "After 25 years of unmet goals and lax enforcement on pollution standards, the federal government is serious about restoring the health of the Chesapeake Bay."

-- Julian Walker

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