Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has a plan to create 50-foot buffer strips along waterways in the state. The idea is to pay farmers through long-term contracts to give up some land (the buffer zones) to protect waterways from runoff. It is this runoff that allows farm chemicals and pesticides into lakes, rivers and streams, creating environmental problems locally, in the state and beyond.

Minnesota currently has a 16 1/2-foot buffer law. But it’s not clear if this setback is ideal for every waterway and along every stretch of ground. The same thing applies to the 50-foot strips. Farmers and farm groups have concerns about Dayton’s plan, which also happens to commit the state (or federal government) to making payments to those farmers for decades.

The Minnesota Corn Growers Association suggests doing more to enforce existing law (the 16 1/2-foot strips). The group also says local officials (water and soil experts) could provide farmers with better judgment calls on what is needed for buffer zones in their areas. Rather than going with a one-size-fits-all state approach.

We do see hope in the fact that everyone seems to agree that buffer zones have value and that polluting lakes, streams and rivers is not acceptable. If that is the case, we believe the governor, lawmakers and farm groups can find a consensus to move toward better environmental protection. Farmers are and want to be good stewards of the land. They will do what’s right if they believe it is right. And law built around consensus can compel to action those who fail to make the right choices.