Perspectives—Soil Erosion, Conservation, and the RCA

This chapter reviews the Resources Conservation Act (RCA) analyses and earlier studies and offers some preliminary interpretations of soil and water conservation program needs. The RCA requires the President to submit to Congress a detailed statement of policy regarding USDA soil and water conservation activities. The impact of soil erosion on crop yields was the main topic of a meeting of more than 100 scientists and leaders in a national workshop held 23-27 Feb. 1981, in Madison, Wis. When the soils of the USA were first cultivated, several processes were initiated or accelerated that were to lead to soil degradation. Soil erosion has caused irreparable damage to much of land, although the annual cost of soil erosion is unknown. Concern is increasing that the full value of production inputs, including the renewable and nonrenewable qualities of soil resources, is not reflected in the prices paid for agricultural commodities.