57 



10 



When fully implemented, these plans will significantly reduce soil erosion on some 142 

 million acres on participating farms in the United States. To date, more than 70 percent of 

 the plans are implemented, and to meet the requirements established in law the remainder 

 must be completed by December 31, 1994. 



SCS estimates that fully implemented plans, combined with the grass and trees planted on 

 the more than 36 million acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, will cut the 

 soil erosion rate on highly erodible cropland in the United States by about 65 percent. This 

 equates to a reduction from approximately 18 tons per acre to 6 tons per acre. In areas 

 where sediment is the primary water quality problem, this program most certainly will help 

 improve water quality. 



As pan of all of the efforts described here, USDA has also reached out to form partnerships 

 with industry, farm organizations and with other agencies to help implement water quality 

 improvements. Some of the progress includes trade publications featuring information for 

 farmers and ranchers on agricultural water quality issues, and the development of the first 

 data based on pesticide characteristics under different soil conditions. 



USDA is working closely with EPA on many water quality issues and projects related to 

 agriculture. We jointly have funded SCS staff positions for all EPA Regional and National 

 offices, provided support to the National Estuary Program, and assisted EPA and the 

 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in developing technology-based 

 management measures for the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments. EPA has 

 two persons detailed to USDA. 



In addition, die U.S. Geological Survey and EPA are helping USDA monitor some of our 

 water quality projects and are cooperating in several research projects. 



