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Page 16 A-~TER AL~C Summer 1999 <br />...cont/nued from page 2 <br />important.. "Information is key," he said. "In the ab- <br />sence of information there is misinformation. Gener- <br />ally, the press blames us for nitrate problems when in <br />fact they may or may not exist." He said accurate <br />monitoring information may also be a tool to help local <br />governments make better land policy decisions that <br />take into account agricultural interests during these <br />times ofever-expanding rural residential development. <br />Why has potato farming increased? The answer can <br />be found on the tip of your tongue: people like french <br />fries, especially those served at fast-food joints and <br />restaurants. Wojtanowicz grows about 20 tons of <br />potatoes per acre per year. He sells virtually every last <br />one. Most become french fries. <br />Frischman, who monitors water quantity and quality in <br />wells throughout Minnesota. "As we obtain more <br />information we will be in a better position to address <br />the major policy and philosophical issues that face our <br />society. And these issues will loom larger in the future <br />because there is a dichotomy between those who have <br />an interest in maximizing crop production and those <br />who are increasingly concerned about our environment <br />and long-term nitrate levels in groundwater supplies." <br />Lais, the St. Cloud hydrologist, agrees. He foresees <br />no decrease in potato production unless supply and <br />demand ratios change dramatically. Likewise, the <br />potential for increasing levels of nitrates in shallow <br />groundwaters isn't going to decline without a change. <br />Jay Frischman, a hydrogeologist for the DNR, said <br />the rise in potato farming has created increased com- <br />munication among DNR, Pollution Control Agency, the <br />State Ag Department and other health and natural <br />resource agencies. "High capacity pumping and its <br />impacts on the landscape and groundwater are being <br />studied more intensively than ever before," said <br />"I'm sure when people say 'Super Size It' at <br />McDonald's they aren't thinking about another potato <br />that needs to be planted, fertilized, irrigated and <br />processed," said Lais. "But that's reality. Our responsi- <br />bility is to assist other agencies as well as citizens and <br />farmers to ensure natural resources are protected. while <br />addressing community and economic concerns." <br />DNR Waters <br />~_°==_~ <br />Water Taik <br />MNDNR Waters <br />500 Lafayette Road <br />St. Paui, MN 55155-4032 <br />ADDRESS CORRECTION <br />REQUESTED <br />=r~r ^~T~Cdcc <br />0 jt~ <br />=~ „-': ; <br />~ i <br />~ -~, s <br />~o ~ . a <br />,cS : ~~ <br />_. ~ -. <br />f ` ~ r <br />~ ,. <br />~' r <br />~" ~<s3: <br />-cam ~'~ ! ~'. <br />v-: `. . . <br />- ..~: x x R R F i p A x <br />