'Modern Agriculture: Its Effects on the Environment' Precis

Author(s): Nancy M. Trautmann, Keith S. Porter and Robert J. Wagenet
URL: http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/facts-slides-self/facts/mod-ag-grw85.html

Modern Agriculture: Its Effects on the Environment, an extension by Nancy M. Trautmann, Keith S. Porter, and Robert J. Wagenet, examines the ‘evolution’ of American agriculture in brief and details the effects of modern agriculture. It focuses mainly on the problems of soil erosion and contamination of water.

American agriculture is highly efficient, as only 3% of the labor force produces all the food needed to meet domestic requirements and a percentage of international requirements. This efficiency is the result of the use of fertilizers, pesticides, the introduction of advanced farming machinery, the development of hybrid strains of a crop, and the increase in knowledge about farm management. Therefore, higher crop yields can be achieved on smaller field areas with a smaller work force. However, these modern practices have had a greater negative impact on the environment.

Soil erosion is one such problem. The removal of natural plant cover can lead to the erosion of the top soil (which holds the vital nutrients, fine soil particles and organic matter) by wind, leaving only the less fertile and absorbent subsoil behind. Certain agricultural practices, such as increased use of farm machinery and the lack of windbreaks or drainage contours on large fields contribute to the problem. However, farmers are reluctant to implement countermeasures, as the short term costs of this exceed the economic benefit to the farmer. Instead, they counter the problems of erosion, the decrease in fertility and productivity of the soils, with an increase in fertilizers and irrigation.

Soil erosion has a direct impact on water quality, as eroded soils run into rivers, clogging lakes, rivers, and reservoirs; this leads to increased flooding and to the destruction of natural habitats. The nutrients, fertilizers and pesticides the soil carries with it additionally affect water quality. This has negative health effects both on aquatic species, as well as humans, who use it as drinking water. For example, the nitrogen in soils that enter bodies of water causes an increase in algae growth; lakes are then ‘choked’ by the decaying algae. Pesticides themselves have negative effects on the environment, as they kill off both the pest and other natural species, and can lead to the development of pesticide-resistant pests.

However, rising awareness of these issues, as well as the rising costs of pesticides and fertilizers have led to an increase in research to develop more beneficial agricultural practices.