Soil protection: Why, by whom, and for whom?

IN a statement before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry on October 28, 1981, and in a related document released to the public the next day, Secretary of Agriculture John R. Block laid out the Reagan Administration's proposals for soil and water conservation over the next several years. Control of soil erosion to protect agricultural productivity is the number one priority in the secretary's program, followed by reduction of flood damages in upstream watersheds. Quantity and quality of water supplies, improvements in fish and wildlife habitat, and increased use of organic wastes are also listed, but because of budgetary constraints they will get little attention. Secretary Block asserted, however, that if progress is made on the first two priorities the others will also be served. The program document takes note of criticisms, both from outside and within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, that soil conservation efforts have not been as effective as they could and should have been, mainly because the efforts have been dispersed rather than concentrated in those areas where erosion problems are most severe. The secretary now proposes to target these efforts more precisely to ensure a better return on …