From Back Forty
A recent report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture entitled, Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators, 2012 examines “trends in economic, structural, resource, and environmental indicators” in the agricultural sector that have developed since the previous report was published in 2006.
We are encouraged to see improvements in water efficiency, conservation tillage, nitrate recovery, as well as increases in federal funding to encourage the voluntary adoption of practices to help lead to these improvements. However, the overall decline in farm and rangeland continues to be a significant concern and phosphorous levels in America’s waterways remains as a critical environmental issue.