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Vol.2,8,Tuesday, No. 31 Tuesday, July8,16, 2013 Vol. 7, No. November 2011
Wostok area producer outraged over Lamont County’s mowing practices Michelle Pinon Editor
Outraged. That is one of the
sections of land for Letawsky to farm, and both longtime local producers are very angry and upset by Lamont
ask him what he was doing and why. The operator told Letawsky he was doing what he was directed to do and
Letaswky estimates a loss of $1,500 per acre based on a half a mile stretch of right-of-way which is 16 and a half
MICHELLE PINON PHOTOS
Wostok area farmer Dan Letawsky was shocked to discover his crops being mowed down last Tuesday afternoon by an operator employed by Lamont County. words Wostok area farmer Dan Letawsky used to describe what he was feeling about the county’s decision to cut down part of his crop early last week. “Looking at this I feel physically sick,” said Letawsky, standing on top of what used to be his canola crop early Sunday morning. “I just hate for food to be destroyed,” added Lawrence Stelmach, who was standing near by, staring down at the ground while shaking his head. Stelmach is Letawsky’s neighbour and friend, who rents out 10 quarter
County’s recent move to mow the right of way (15 feet) regardless of whether it is grass or crops. While the policy, which allows the municipality to do so is not new, what is new is putting the procedures into practice. “It’s a complete slap in the face,” stated Letawsky, who came home from spraying last Tuesday to see a county employee cutting down his crops along Range Road 174 and Township Road 562. Letawsky said he hopped in the truck and stopped the operator to
was following the municipality’s policy. He also contacted the county as well as his local councillor. While both Letawsky and Stelmach fully understand that the land belongs to the county, but at the same time they don’t agree with the county mowing down crops to abide by the policy. “There’s no need for it,” said Stelmach. In the past, the mower would simply go around the crop, added Stelmach. Letawsky asked aloud: “It’s a policy; but where’s the common sense in all of this?” In terms of money,
feet wide. Letawsky said he had no idea that this was going to be happening, and said that was one of the reasons why he wanted to go public with his story. “I wanted to expose it and let other farmers to know.” Both Letawsky and Stelmach want the county to stop this practice immediately, and that is why they have decided to set up private meetings with local councillor Chris Klita and agricultural fieldman Terry Eleniak. Continued on Page 2