It is an outrage that liberal Maryland politicians and the Maryland press blame livestock farmers as a primary source of pollution in the Chesapeake Bay ("The cost of farming," June 22). Politicians and environmental organizations such as Sen. Benjamin Cardin and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation never give Maryland farmers credit for the utilization of best management practices, and they fail to tell Maryland citizens that Maryland agriculture is moving out of the state.

My question to Senator Cardin, is why are Maryland livestock farmers being targeted primary polluters of the Chesapeake Bay? Since 1980, animal agriculture has been on a steady decline in Maryland. It is a fact that there are fewer cows, pigs, sheep, goats and horses in Maryland than there have been in the past. Furthermore, there are fewer acres of corn and soybeans planted in Maryland. During this same period of time, Maryland farmers have dramatically reduced soil erosion, the primary culprit of agricultural pollution.

In addition, our illustrious state government now dictates where and when Maryland farmers can make applications of organic livestock manure. Knowing that there are fewer tons of manure and plant food applied to Maryland soils than in the past and that there are fewer animals and crops grown in Maryland, how can the farm community logically be blamed as the current primary polluter of the Chesapeake Bay?

Moreover why don't the politicians admit that some of the most polluted water draining into the Chesapeake Bay comes from the Patapsco River? There is very little farm land that drains into the Patapsco River.

It is time for our politicians to admit that Smart Growth has not been too smart. The primary source of pollution in Maryland is from an increased population and the development that supports the increased population. Take a look at the honest data. Since 1980, while the number of farms has dropped, the following have increased in Maryland: the number of people, the number of cars, the number of boats, the number of commercial buildings and the acres of impervious service.

My final question for the policy leaders is, who will you blame for polluting the Chesapeake Bay when all the farmers leave?

Henry Holloway, Bel Air