Make sure you get your permits before plowing your fields...

[Oldoak]

The story isn't quite as simple as "farmer fined for plowing his land". Anybody and especially a commercial farmer should understand the sensitivity of wetlands issues. Seems he willfully decided to ignore those issues. Unless what he did was egregious, I would imagine that the real fine will be far less than the maximum reported to earn a juicy headline. Not exactly "fake news" but hardly shocking.

I would say, a very rational assessment of the limited information publicized. :thumbsup:

In many instances government does "over reach". But do we as individuals pick and choose what rules, regulations, or laws we will or not abide by? Almost everyday someone is complaining about this or that law but do noting about it to vote those same public officials that approved such legislation out of office.

 

[TractorGuy]

I would say, a very rational assessment of the limited information publicized. :thumbsup:

In many instances government does "over reach". But do we as individuals pick and choose what rules, regulations, or laws we will or not abide by? Almost everyday someone is complaining about this or that law but do noting about it to vote those same public officials that approved such legislation out of office.

Hear Hear!

BUT, even when they do the politicians always seem to flip flop and go along with the rest of the cronies once they get in office. One a law is passed the damage is usually done forever.

My wife asked the other day if I would dig a pond on our land. I told her we would require and environmental study and permitting. She said the heck with getting a permit. She says Daniel Boone is rolling over in his grave. I just laughed.

 

[dmccarty]

The article states that the government's argument is that the guy was not plowing, which the law allows, but instead he was ripping the soil. At least the argument will be over the meaning of the word "plowing" instead of "is."

We have an NGO in our county running around creating an "inventory" of environmental assets. They have marked a part of our land as a wetland even though the area in question is on the top of the hill and bone, freaking dry. The soil is hard packed, useless clay mixed with rocks and huge boulders and any rain that falls runs downhill. Short of being a desert, it is about as far from a wetland as one can get. The map they are using just has big circles marking areas they want to "inventory" and they are obviously using area photos along with some big Wild A...ss Guesses on what is actually on the ground. At some point there will be regulations created from the inventory and any landowner disagreeing with the so called experts taking of their land will have to go to court. But hey, the NGO is on a mission to save the planet. so it is all ok.

Later,
Dan

 

[BigBoyToys]

But do we as individuals pick and choose what rules, regulations, or laws we will or not abide by?

If a state can declare themselves a "Sanctuary State", and not abide by Federal Law...why can't a farmer declare his farm a "Sanctuary Farm" and ignore Federal Law as well???
I would imagine CA would be very understanding! :drink:

 

[PJSprog]

Every time I read a California ridiculousness story like this, I am reminded that while living in Illinois is not exactly an oasis of freedoms, it could always be worse.

 

[Oldoak]

Hear Hear!

BUT, even when they do the politicians always seem to flip flop and go along with the rest of the cronies once they get in office. One a law is passed the damage is usually done forever.

My wife asked the other day if I would dig a pond on our land. I told her we would require and environmental study and permitting. She said the heck with getting a permit. She says Daniel Boone is rolling over in his grave. I just laughed.

Yes, you make a very good point. Politics and cronyism go hand in hand and has become the bane of our country. :drink:

 

[IslandTractor]

Every time I read a California ridiculousness story like this, I am reminded that while living in Illinois is not exactly an oasis of freedoms, it could always be worse.

I am not so sure this is only CA. It's the Feds. Wetlands are usually a federal issue as I recall.

 

[PJSprog]

I am not so sure this is only CA. It's the Feds. Wetlands are usually a federal issue as I recall.

Agreed. However, it seems 99% of these types of stories originate in that state. Just my perception, perhaps.

 

[widefat]

Yes, you make a very good point. Politics and cronyism go hand in hand and has become the bane of our country. :drink:

And that's a shame. I have a nice riparian area. The organization - the "environmental council" - in our area that holds all of the conservation easements offers programs to benefit the environment. I would like learn from them re how I can best maintain and enhance the riparian area, but there is NO WAY I am going to allow them on my property or become attached to them in any way. This is why we cant have anything nice.

 

[IslandTractor]

Agreed. However, it seems 99% of these types of stories originate in that state. Just my perception, perhaps.

Yes, they are more aggressive in CA and more importantly bigger. Recall it was the CA "air pollution board" that outed VW on their diesel deception (after given a heads up by Univ of West Virginia). CA is something like that sixth or seventh largest economy in the world so if they sometimes behave like a sovereign state it is for a reason.