CRP: What economic benefits?

Abstract

AGRICULTURE has wide-ranging impacts on natural resources. Some cropping practices leave the soil bare for extended periods of time, increasing the threat of wind and water erosion. Soil erosion reduces the productivity of cropland, especially on highly erodible, shallow soils. Wind-borne soil particles can cause property and health damages downwind from their source. Water erosion can carry a number of residuals into waterways that can have detrimental impacts on water users. The conversion of grassland and remnant habitats, such as hedgerows, woodlots, and wetlands, to crop production has a detrimental impact on wildlife by eliminating nesting sites, food sources, and escape cover. Irrigated agriculture can remove water from aquifers faster than it is replaced, increasing pumping lifts, decreasing the water available for wildlife, and decreasing scarce groundwater supplies for future agricultural and nonagricultural uses. The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), authorized by the Food Security Act of 1985, has the potential for generating sizeable environmental and natural resource benefits. The potential removal of 45 million acres of highly erodible cropland from production will reduce erosion on that land, thereby improving air and water quality and soil productivity. Planting trees, forbs …