Soil degradation and land use changes: A representative-farm analysis

A representative farm in a highly erosive area of southern Illinois was used to explore the impacts of conventional tillage, conservation tillage, and no-till on profitability, soil loss, and land use patterns. The study employed a linear programming model incorporating, among other constraints, soil loss expressed as a multiple of appropriate soil loss tolerance (T-value) and the equipment complements required for different types of reduced tillage. Model results indicated conservation practices can increase returns to management and real property while meeting erosion control standards. The results emphasize the need for efficient alfalfa hay markets and the need for farmers to handle labor bottlenecks in the early summer and late fall.