The Beacon - Letter to the Editor

Rich farmland a one-time gift from nature

I have been driving from Stratford to New Hamburg for over 60 years. Lately, because of the threat to irreplaceable farmland, this writer has tried to think of improvements to the existing Highway 7/8.

If the knolls and hills were reduced in height by six or eight feet and the hollows raised by the same amount, the line of sight for oncoming traffic would be greatly improved. This would prevent many accidents caused by impatient drivers. Construction costs would not be excessive, and Shakespeare's commerce would not be negatively impacted.

During the St. Lawrence Seaway development, many brick buildings were moved miles, and that was decades ago. The Fryfogel Inn and Lingelbach Church could be relocated.
Having driven in all the provinces in Canada except for the Far North, we have seen a lot of country.

The four-lane highway proposed would desecrate some of the most valuable agricultural land on Earth! This proposal for a Stratford bypass would cover ground that has grown food for one and a half centuries. Our farmers could produce for at least another 150 years.
Would it be fair to cheat future generations out of this local food supply for the sake of a few minutes saved?

Under the rules of Environment Nutrient Management, the number of livestock units kept is limited to the acres required for the application of manure. Loss of land would mean the reduction of cows or pigs allowed.

If the house and farm buildings are separated from the workable land, can you imagine the problem of transporting the planting and harvesting equipment to the nearest interchange, going across the overpass, back to your farm, doing the work, then returning home?

Surely our present bypass routes could be upgraded at less cost to the province. Excellent farmland with a favourable climate is rare. Let's protect it.

Harold Erb
Stratford