5.2: Soil, Air, and Water Resources

Provide Science-Based Knowledge and Education To Improve Quality and Management of Soil, Air, and Water Resources

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Intensively managed croplands, in addition to providing food and fiber, play a critical role in determining air, water, and soil quality. Because these lands are intensively utilized, effective management is critical in sustaining the Nation’s natural resource base. Sound scientific management of productive croplands should lead to the maintenance of sustainable high levels of soil, air, and water quality and benefit both agricultural production and the environment. Not the least of the benefits of improved production systems is removing the necessity of farming environmentally sensitive marginal lands. ARS will provide producers with management practices and tools that will allow sustainable food, feed, and fiber production while protecting soil, air, and water resources. Performance Measures: 5.2.1: Develop the tools and techniques required to maintain and restore the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s watersheds and its surface and groundwater resources. Baseline: 2002 – Currently EPA estimates that 70 percent of the rivers, 68 percent of the estuaries, and 60 percent of the lakes now meet legislatively mandated goals. Target: 2007 – ARS, in conjunction with other Federal, State, and local agencies, will provide the tools and means to improve the quality of the Nation’s waters that affect agricultural watersheds. 5.2.2: Develop agricultural practices that maintain or enhance soil resources, thus ensuring sustainable food, feed, and fiber production while protecting environmental quality. Baseline: 2002 – Approximately 500 million acres of cropland and grazingland have been degraded by various causes, including erosion, loss of organic matter, compaction, salinity, and soil acidification. Target: 2007 – Develop improved conservation practices and systems that would, if adopted, improve productivity, conserve soil resources, and enhance environmental quality. 5.2.3: Develop approaches that mitigate the impact of poor air quality on crop production and provide scientific information and technology to maintain or enhance crop and animal production while controlling emissions that reduce air quality or destroy the ozone layer. Baseline: 2002 – Dust emissions from agricultural operations and ammonia emissions from animal feeding operations pose a threat to environmental quality and human health. Target: 2007 – Develop management practices that would, if adopted, reduce dust emissions from agricultural operations. 5.2.4: Develop agricultural practices and decision-support strategies that allow producers to take advantage of beneficial effects and mitigate adverse impacts of global change. Baseline: 2002 – Increases in the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases and related increases in weather variability affect the physiology and ecology of plants on croplands and rangelands in often unpredictable ways. Target: 2007 – Develop models that will provide quantitative estimates of how management practices will affect crop production and soil carbon sequestration under climatic and carbon dioxide conditions projected for major U.S. agricultural systems in the mid-21st century. 5.2.5: Develop management practices, treatment technologies, and decision tools for effective use of animal manure and selected industrial and municipal byproducts to improve soil properties and enhance crop production while protecting the environment. Baseline: 2002 – Inappropriate management of animal manure and byproducts poses a threat to soil, water, and air quality. Target: 2007 – Develop manure and byproduct management practices and treatment technologies that improve soil quality; reduce inputs of nutrients, sediment, and pathogens to surface and ground waters; and reduce air emissions of gases and particulates from animal feeding operations. 5.2.6: Develop agricultural and decision-support systems that assist in increasing the efficiency of agricultural enterprises and achieve economic and environmental sustainability. Baseline: 2002 – Inadequate tools to replace those lost because of environmental constraints and the uncertainty of outcomes (financial, ecological, and social) and interactions associated with changing cropping management systems are constraining the development of sustainable agriculture management systems. Target: 2007 – Develop alternative crop and animal production systems that increase productivity and profitability.

Indicator(s):

Indicator:1

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