Swampbusting in perspective

Abstract

MUCH of the conservation title in the Food Security Act of 1985 is the inevitable reaction to environmental problems created by the agricultural expansion of the 1970s. The new farm bill emphasizes consistency between national goals for agricultural production and resource conservation. While provisions requiring consistency with soil conservation goals were expected, a surprise provision discouraging conversion of wetlands to crop production is included in the new legislation. Wetlands have been a focus of concern since increased awareness of environmental issues in the late 1960s transformed them in the public mind from “pestilential” wastes to productive ecosystems. The role of agriculture in wetland conversion was realized when the National Wetland Status and Trends Analysis showed that 87 percent of the 13.8 million acres of wetlands lost between the 1950s and 1970s were converted to agricultural purposes ( 6 ). Direct federal assistance for converting wetlands to agriculture was eliminated in 1977 by Executive Order 11990. Before that, Soil Conservation Service policy restricted technical assistance for agricultural drainage to 2 upland wetland types of the 20 types identified by Fish and Wildlife Service Circular 39 ( 15 ). The “swampbuster” provision of the Food Security Act of 1985 (P.L …