Some farmers in Canada’s Prince Edward Island have no choice but to use irrigation ponds to counter the impacts of drought conditions like what was experienced on the Island last summer, says the P.E.I. Potato Board.
The CBC’s Wayne Thibodeau reports that the board issued a statement Thursday to address what it described as myths by a small group of Islanders that farmers will run streams and wells dry.
Greg Donald, general manager of the P.E.I. Potato Board, says he’s hearing more and more concerns from what he describes as “some special interest groups.” He said decisions about holding ponds need to be based on facts and evidence, not fear-mongering.
“This isn’t something new,” Donald said in an interview with CBC News.
Holding ponds have been a controversial work-around for the agricultural industry in light of a long-standing moratorium on new high-capacity irrigation wells.
Source: CBC News. Full report here
Photo: Greg Donald, general manager of the P.E.I. Potato Board | Courtesy Wayne Thibodeau/CBC
