In the past six weeks I have begun to view the world in an entirely new perspective – through the eyes of a parent. From the very start I’ve been concerned about how my daughter interacts with the world around her through what she touches, what she listens to, what she eats and what she breathes.

Now I’ve never been one to put a lot of stock into global warming and the belief that we are causing the glaciers to melt. However, I do believe that we each have a significant impact on the environment and the air we breathe.

I have watched as blue grey smoke jumped from the top of a tractor and inhaled the heavy exhaust fumes. I have stacked hay bales in a hot, humid and dusty haymow where the air was thick enough to choke on. I have walked through poorly ventilated calf barns with the scent of ammonia so thick you could cry.

Because we’ve all been there before does that make these situations okay? Or what if there was a stronger breeze to move the odors and particles away from your nose is that better?

Some would argue it was technology that got us into an era where emissions are a growing concern. I believe it will also be technology that gets us out – that, and some common sense.

Methane digesters, lagoon covers and application by injection have been found to reduce air emissions on farms. Feed companies are researching diets that reduce the amount of methane cows themselves emit.

If you don’t have the means to buy into today’s technology there are some simple steps you can take now to limit your impact on the environment. For one, you could drive less. Try to combine multiple tasks in a single outing instead of multiple outings for single tasks. When moving around your dairy, use a small car or ATV to get from point A to point B, instead of a large truck. Or perhaps a bicycle or walking would do the trick too and it could impress your doctor on your next visit as well.

So the next time the air around you is less than pleasant, take a moment to consider how your actions are impacting the environment and what you could do to reduce or even eliminate those emissions.

I know I will do just that, for this world is no longer a place where I will spend my time. It is now the place I will raise my little girl. As I write this, she is sitting with her father in their favorite spot on the front porch, enjoying a breath of fresh air. I can only hope that one day she’ll be able to do the same with her first child and at that time the air will be just as clean, if not cleaner, than it is today. ANM