Page 26 - KMA Ag Mag 2020

KMAland 2020
26 Overcoming Current Challenges in the Ag Community
mosquitos, muskrats, and ground- more floods than we used to, and have been strong in their support
hogs. we’ve got to figure out how to for improved flood control. This
As president of the Missouri improve flood protection along time, we can make improvements,
Farm Bureau, I’ve done dozens the Missouri River. if we continue to make our case.
of interviews over the past year, Now, as it turns out, we Environmental groups and
talking about the flooding. I’ve know how to do that. We reverse opponents of sensible flood con-
talked about lost homes, flooded course and remove changes we’ve trol ignore the main facts on the
and ruined grain storage, the sin- made in the river that impede ground. We long ago made the
gle longest closure in the history the flow of the river and damage decision to farm in the flood
of the interstate highway system, levees. We repair structures that plains, to locate roads in the flood
ruined roads and bridges, and the we’ve long known can protect plains, to build railroads and grain
heartbreak that comes from fight- levees and increase the ability of elevators and homes. We can’t
ing the same fight again and again, the river to carry high water. We go back, but must move forward
with no hope in sight. People improve levees, and yes, when the with improved flood control. Our
who live along the Missouri River local community and landowners citizens deserve no less.
are tired, depressed, financially agree, we make the footprint of Bill Murray finally left
struggling, and Missouri, Iowa, the levees more rational, reducing Groundhog Day when he made
Nebraska, and Kansas need solu- pinch points along the river. And the right decisions. When he
tions. finally, we look southward to the cared for others more than him-
Every interviewer asks the system of levees and reservoirs self, when he realized that there
same question. “Are the ever that protect the lower Mississippi are more important things in life
more common floods the result River, and ask why we don’t have than his own self-interest. We
of Climate Change? I always the same protection. can leave our Groundhog Day
reply that I haven’t the slight- Missouri Farm Bureau is proud along the river when we make
est idea. And, furthermore, it to serve on Governor Parson’s the right decisions, and when we
really doesn’t matter whether the working group to address flood put the interests of people above
flooding is occurring because of issues. We appreciate the cooper- those of endangered species and
climate change, or misguided ation between our Governor and the romantic idea that we can
experiments along the river to the other Governors in the lower recreate the past.
protect endangered species, or Missouri River Basin. Our respec-
just because of bad luck. We have tive Congressional Delegations