Study: Great Plains stability vulnerable
A survey of long-term agricultural trends in the U.S. Great Plains concludes environmental threats are, overall, being counterbalanced by stability.
The survey by William Parton and Dennis Ojima of Colorado State University, Myron Gutmann of the University of Michigan and colleagues finds technological advances -- such as improved crop varieties, irrigation, and fertilizer use -- have greatly increased production of major crops and allowed rural populations to remain stable during the past 50 years even as metropolitan populations have soared.
Rural counties with extensive irrigation have slightly increased their populations, the study shows, although less-irrigated counties that offer fewer opportunities for farm-associated work have decreased theirs slightly.
But the survey determined the Great Plains’ population is nonetheless falling behind that of the nation as a whole, and the proportion of people over 55 has grown rapidly. The researchers also found increases in crop productivity have had substantial environmental impacts, including loss of soil carbon and high nitrate runoff.
Farms have become more dependent on government subsidies to meet the increased costs of agricultural inputs and fuel.
The study is detailed in the October issue of the journal BioScience // Copyright 2007 by United Press International
Comments