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 Editorials | Environmental | February 2008 
Cloud Seeding Controversy In Texas Panhandle
 KVII Online
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Amarillo - Cloud seeding aims to maximize moisture in clouds and produce rainfall.
This week, area farmers and ranchers met to voice their opinions to representatives from Austin on the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District's request for a new permit for cloud seeding.
Pronews 7 was the only television station at the meeting.
About fifty panhandle ranchers and farmers waited four years to speak out once again about cloud seeding in the P.G.C.D.
"We're people of the dirt. We're farmers and ranchers and look to the heavens on a regular basis for rainfall," said Rank Cogdell, who farms and ranches in Briscoe County.
Many fought the same battle two years ago when the North Plains Groundwater District decided to end their cloud seeding program.
"Now we're having to deal with it again. We really feel it's detrimental to our area," said David Ford, who farms and ranches in Moore, Hartley and Dallam Counties.
Planes shoot flares of silver iodide into clouds in both the target area and the buffer zone...with only the goal of making it rain in the target area. Leading those in buffer zone to say...their rain is being stolen.
"If the good Lord above decides I don't need a rain, I can handle that," said Cogdell. "But when it gets down to a man deciding who gets it in what amount and who doesn't...that's just plain ol' not right."
The groundwater district sees it another way.
"It's kind of like putting fertilizer on a crop. You put it on and hope that it increases the yields and that's all we're trying to do is increase the yield," said C.E. Williams, P.G.C.D. General Manager.
Many land-workers also say they just do not think cloud seeding is natural.
"You get used to knowing what things ought to take place and when things quit happening like they have for most of your life...you begin to ask questions why," said Ford.
These farmers and ranchers just are not happy with the P.G.C.D, especially after the P.G.C.D admittedly seeded clouds once in Briscoe County without a permit in 2007.
"I'm human and make mistakes just like everybody else," said Williams.
Still, as far as some are concerned, it is their livelihood and they would appreciate it if the P.G.C.D would not tinker with it.
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation will examine all that happened in Wednesday's meeting. The executive director will make a decision on whether or not to approve the cloud seeding permit by March 13th. |
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