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CommunityFarmers could grow biofuels after the tobacco buyout ends
Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008
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Over the last several weeks The Enterprise covered several agricultural related topics.ÊBuying locally grown products was touted.ÊState level discussion was covered, and your editor’s opinion weighed in, on a course of action for the post-tobacco buyout.ÊThe articles were about what is best for supporting the local agri-economy, which is a valued characteristic of rural Southern Maryland.
While buying grapes and tomatoes from our neighbor farm families is great, it does not touch the scale of what the tobacco farmers produced.ÊAnd with the tobacco buyout period ending a broader perspective is needed.
A targeted oil-producing grain crop may be the answer.ÊInstead of paying our farmer landowners not to grow crops as a means to quell the pressure to subdivide and sell, the county should provide incentives to our farmers through long-term contracts for soy or other oil crops; partnering with local biodiesel providers to purchase the locally produced fuel that is needed for the county’s vehicle infrastructure.
Our county farmers will have to adapt to sharing⁄leasing equipment since our highly parceled land is not as conducive to commodity-like mass production.ÊLikewise our local fuel distribution suppliers will need to venture into biofuels, possibly production as well as distribution.ÊThis is a long-term commercial-based solution that maintains our rural character, produces living-wage level jobs and exploits our local technology-based skills.
Pat Leard, Leonardtown
