The potential for leaching of agrichemicals used in crop production: A national perspective

Abstract

This study shows that the potential for ground water contamination related to agricultural use of chemicals is geographically diverse both nationally and regionally. Agricultural areas of the county that have the highest priority for further study and program implementation are in the Midwest and the Coastal Plain in the South and East. Areas of the county identified as being in a high risk group were shown to also have significant acreage that appear not to be at risk. This mix of relative vulnerability has important policy implications. Government policies addressing ground water quality must be flexible enough to account for this geographic diversity to avoid unnecessarily penalizing agricultural producers in some areas in attempts to solve problems in other areas.