For Immediate Release
Date: January 30, 2007
 

Contact:
Paige Buck, State Public Affairs Specialist, (217) 353.6606
James Johnson Resource Inventory Specialist (217) 353-6641
 

NRI Data Shows Progress in Illinois Soil Conservation Efforts

It isn’t report card season right now for kids, but it is for Illinois agricultural landowners interested in seeing how they measure up in land use trends and environmental accomplishments. Data gathered through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) and the National Resources Inventory (NRI) has been released. While new data does not paint a complete picture it does indicate that private landowners across Illinois continue to make positive strides in the protection of soil and water resources.

NRI is a statistical survey of natural resource conditions and trends on non-Federal land in the U.S. Until this latest release, NRI data was conducted only every five years and did not gather state-specific data. For years, NRI data was collected and analyzed based on twelve incredibly large watersheds that span Northern America. The Major River Basin that contains Illinois is called the Souris-Red-Rainy/Upper Mississippi Watershed. On this scale, Illinois’ data is averaged with that of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota and North Dakota.

Now NRI has been revamped. It gathers and compares annual data samples at both the large major river basin level and the state level. “This state data will really help state and federal decision-makers as well as private landowners get a clear picture of what’s going on here at home,” says NRCS’ Resource Inventory Specialist James Johnson.

Since this is the first year with new data collection standards, the latest data stands alone; there is nothing to compare it to. “What this means is that we can’t appreciate the true value of this new NRI data until we see the next set of numbers. Only then can we actually calculate gains, losses, or steady activity occurring on the land. The next data set will be released late in 2007,” says Johnson.

By looking at the large watershed scale data, NRCS sees continued and steady declines in sheet and rill erosion on cropland. The entire watershed is down to an average loss of 3.0 tons of soil per acre per year. Similar 1982 data was 4.4 tons per acre per year.

NRCS State Conservationist Bill Gradle explains that data and improvements in erosion control clearly demonstrate the impact that the initial provisions of the 1985 Farm Bill have had on Illinois’ section of the nation. “The next data set will give us an even clearer picture of what the 1996 Farm Bill and landowner stewardship efforts have had on the state of our state,” adds Gradle.


Illinois Land Use Profile – 2003 Data

Cropland                          23,980,500 acres
Pasture                              2,254,000 acres
Forestland                          3,949,300 acres
Developed/Urban                3,347,300 acres
Water                                   725,800 acres
Total Surface Area            36,058,700 acres
Sheet & Rill Erosion         4.0 tons/acre/year



Key findings:

· Between 1982 and 2003, soil erosion on U.S. cropland decreased 43%.

· Total erosion amounts continue to decline across the nation with the most significant reductions in the Missouri and the Souris-Red-Rainy/Upper Mississippi Major River Basins.

· In 1982 40% of all cropland was eroding above soil loss tolerance rates (“T”) but by 2003, only 28% of all cropland was above “T.”

· Highly Erodible Land (HEL) cropland acres eroding above “T” declined 35% between 1982 and 2003.

· Non-HEL cropland acres eroding above T decreased 45% between 1982 and 2003.


Estimates provided only represent 2003 conditions and cannot be used to evaluate change from previous inventory cycles. State-level change estimates and associated trending information from the 2003 Annual NRI will be available for release late winter 2007.

“Stay tuned for the next round of data,” adds Johnson. “I expect to see more positive data and evidence of all the good conservation solutions that Illinois producers put on the ground. Many private landowners here continue to demonstrate a true commitment to soil and water resources and I expect the next data set will confirm that their commitment is solid and that it continues to grow,” adds Johnson.



For more information on NRCS’ National Resources Inventory (NRI), visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/NRI/

 

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NRCS - Helping People Help the Land

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