A 50-Year Farm Bill
By WES JACKSON and WENDELL BERRY
Published: January 4, 2009
THE extraordinary rainstorms last June caused catastrophic soil erosion in the grain lands of Iowa, where there were gullies 200 feet wide. But even worse damage is done over the long term under normal rainfall — by the little rills and sheets of erosion on incompletely covered or denuded cropland, and by various degradations resulting from industrial procedures and technologies alien to both agriculture and nature.
Soil that is used and abused in this way is as nonrenewable as (and far more valuable than) oil. Unlike oil, it has no technological substitute — and no powerful friends in the halls of government.
Agriculture has too often involved an insupportable abuse and waste of soil, ever since the first farmers took away the soil-saving cover and roots of perennial plants. Civilizations have destroyed themselves by destroying their farmland. This irremediable loss, never enough noticed, has been made worse by the huge monocultures and continuous soil-exposure of the agriculture we now practice. Read More
This should draw the criticisms from all of the animal rights groups. To suggest that we plant more hay so we can feed more cattle, flies right in the face of their goals to eliminate animal agriculture in the United States. Overall, this article is about 70 years late. Incredible amounts of soil erosion took place in the 1930’s. Since that time, farmers have been improving their techniques and utilizing technology to reduce the amount of erosion and lessen the use of oil and chemicals.
To hear an interview with Wes Jackson on Rural Route Radio about this article click here.
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