Agriculture and the environment

Agriculture in the United States is in the midst of a major transition moti vated by economic and environmental factors. These include water quality and quantity, soil erosion, and the compatibility of agricultural production prac tices and the quality of the environment. In the context of this change, U.S. agricultural policy seeks to balance several objectives including an abundance of food and fiber at reasonable prices, economic security for agricultural pro ducers, and conservation of natural resources.

Agricultural chemical use and soil and water quality degradation associ ated with agricultural production are significant among the environmental problems confronting the United States. In fact, these are now perceived as environmental problems comparable to other environmental problems such as air quality deterioration and the release of toxic pollutants from industrial sources. While the growth of agricultural chemical use is an integral part of the technological revolution in agriculture that has generated major changes in production techniques, uncertainties about the health effects of agricultural chemicals are very important concerns. Severe soil degradation from erosion, compaction, or salinization can destroy the productive capacity of the soil. It can also impair water quality from sediment and agricultural chemicals.

This book looks at both of these significant issues - the relationship be tween agricultural chemical use and the environment and the relationship be tween soil and water quality degradation associated with agricultural produc tion and the environment. After an overview provided in the first chapter, the next four chapters focus on agricultural chemical use. The subsequent chapters look at soil erosion, water quality issues, and agricultural production. Due to the nature of policy issues involved, however, the material in each chapter is inexorably intertwined with the material in other chapters. Consequently, cross-referencing is essential and each individual chapter must be considered in the context of the entire book.

There are a number of themes that run throughout. First, agricultural pro ducers do respond to economic factors. These can take a number of forms in cluding market price signals and government subsidies. Second, the govern ment can influence the choice of production practices through a variety of means including regulation, education and technical assistance, research and development, taxes, and subsidies. Third, government intervention is war ranted in some instances due to the presence of externalities. Finally, agricul ture in the United States is dynamic, continually adopting new production practices and technologies. It is through a combination of these factors that the negative impacts of agriculture on the environment can be mitigated.