Today, Secretary Vilsack announced the results of a study, “Effects of Conservation Practices on Cultivated Cropland in the Upper Mississippi River Basin.” According to the Associated Press, the study showed conservation practices by producers in the Upper Mississippi River Basin have “made significant progress in reducing sediment, fertilizer, and pesticide runoff.”
Vilsack stated that the “important new report confirms that farmers and ranchers are stepping up and implementing conservation practices that can and do have a significant impact on the health of America's soil and water. The information gathered for this study will make it possible to quantify the effectiveness of conservation practices for the first time and enable USDA to design and implement conservation programs that will not only better meet the needs of farmers and ranchers, but also help ensure that taxpayers' conservation dollars are used as effectively as possible."
In addition, the study showed areas with potential for improving conservation practices. For example, “the study found that consistent use of nutrient management (proper rate, form, timing and method of application) is generally lacking throughout the region. Improved nutrient management would reduce the risk of nutrient movement from fields to rivers and streams. A suite of practices that includes both soil erosion and consistent nutrient management is required to simultaneously address soil erosion and nitrogen leaching loss.”
The study is available at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/nri/ceap/
To read the USDA Press Release, click here.
