Across wide swaths of Iowa and other Corn Belt states, the rich, dark soil that made this region the nation’s breadbasket is being swept away at rates many times higher than official estimates.
That is the disturbing picture revealed by new techniques that track soil erosion with unprecedented precision. Read More
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SOIL LOSS BY THE NUMBERS A snapshot of the destructive impact of USDA’s
unbalanced subsidy programs and policies
$51
billion (1997-2009)
spent to boost all-out
production in farm states
$7
billion (1997-2009)
spent to protect
soil and water
10
million acres
of Iowa farmland lost dangerous amounts of soil in 2007
97%
of soil loss is preventable by simple conservation measures
LOSING GROUND – The Video
FROM THE AIR – The Toll of Erosion
The Report
Compelling new evidence shows that soil erosion and runoff from cropland is far worse than conventional estimates suggest.
Regional and statewide measures of “average” soil erosion obscure the severe damage done to the land by each new storm.
It’s time to ensure that simple, traditional and effective conservation practices are in place everywhere.
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