Don't Disturb the Dirt

Save the soil to maintain the State of Washington’s food supply to the US

Soil erosion is second, only to population growth, as the biggest environmental problem the world faces (Pimentel, 2006). Soil acts as a water filter, home to billions of living organisms, contributes to biodiversity, and provides most of the antibiotics humans and animals need to treat illness. It serves as a platform for human activities and landscape. It provides ecosystems with a growing medium. Farmers rely on it for crop-productivity. The government has been concerned with soil conservation since the 1930’s, yet during the Reagan Administration, budgets were cut and many soil conservation programs were eliminated. (Steiner, 1987). The need for adequate and healthy soil supply is evident; however, about 90% of US cropland is losing soil above the sustainable rate. About 54% of pastureland is overgrazed, making it subject to high rates of erosion. In the past 100 years, 40% of the rich Palouse soils of northwest US was lost. (Pimentel, D., Harvey, C. & et al., 1995).

Palouse soils encompass southeastern Washington State. Washington’s land is comprised of steep mountains Coast Range and Cascade Mountains, narrow to broad, gently sloping valleys and plains in the western region. Between the Columbia and Idaho Batholiths is smooth to deeply dissected plains and plateaus that are underlain by basalt flows which are mostly covered with a veneer of loess and volcanic ash. The eastern side of the state is characterized by rugged mountains and has some broad valleys and some remnants of high plateaus. The soils in this region are dominantly Alfisols, Entisols, Inceptisols, and Mollisols (Hipple, 2011). According to the Washington Sustainable Food and Farming Network, “Washington loses 69,000 acres of farmland every year” (WSU's biologically intensive agriculture and organic farming, n.d.). Washington’s economy relies on the productions of lumber, crops, and tourism. The state produces about 64% of the nation's apples, and is the number one producer of hops, sweet corn, mint, onions, asparagus, cherries, grapes, and pears. About 70% of Washington’s total agricultural receipts are in crops (Washington State Agriculture Overview, 2006). Healthy soil is crucial to maintain agricultural practices and provide food to the nation.

Possible threats to the health and conservation of soil in WA are climate change, decline in organic matter, local contamination, salinization, floods, landslides and storms. In addition, new agricultural technologies, machines and practices accelerate erosion rates in Washington. Inadequate farming and forestry practices, industrial activities, tourism, and construction works lead to the mismanagement of soil.

Recent storm patterns have shown to be increasingly aggressive. According to the soil and water conservation society, the implications of climate change are a major concern. The society’s reference to climate change is expressed by changes in precipitation patterns for the conservation of soil and water resources in the United States. The report titled Conservation Implications of Climate Change: Soil Erosion and Runoff from Cropland, explains how under the predicted future precipitation regimes, the magnitude and extent of increased rates of soil erosion and runoff are large. If widespread, the increases in soil erosion and run-off from cropland could reverse and progress that the US has made in reducing soil degradation and water pollution from cropland unless additional protective measures are taken. (Conservation Implications of Climate Change: Soil Erosion and Runoff from Cropland, 2003).

Washington may not be able to control the climate, but changing farm practices can help reduce the risks climate change imposes on soil. Soil erosion control and adoption of conservation could be effective measures that lead to carbon sequestration. One goal to help conserve the soil is to use less intensive farming practices, limit surface mining and tilling, and increase terracing, strip cropping and crop rotation. A recent study revealed how removing native forest and starting intensive agriculture has accelerated erosion by 100 times faster than nature (Brown, 2015). Heavy equipment causes soil compaction. Mining and processing mineral commodities not only increases soil erosion, but it contributes to water contamination, air pollution and deforestation.

Tilling soilopens up surfaces under soil, causes a flush of Co2 and nitrates into the system and makes for an environment in which bacteria grow; natural organisms can preserve the soil and build it up with the use of tillage (Friis, 2010). One barrier to reducing tillage is that small farms can need to till for short-term gains instead of long-term stewardship. Farmers, especially small farm owners struggle to meet financial needs because of high production costs and low reimbursement rates. However the payoffs of not tilling outweigh the trade-offs. A no-till practice reduces soil erosion, conserves water, improves soil health, reduces fuel, labor costs, sediment and fertilizer pollution of lakes and streams, and it sequesters carbon. No-till practices can reduce the factors that lead climate change and further improve the environment as a whole. The trade-offs are that transitioning from conventional farming to no-till is difficult. The necessary equipment can be costly, and farmers will need to rely more on herbicides. Along with this, the prevalence of weeds, disease and other pests may shift in unexpected ways. No till practices may initially require more nitrogen fertilizer and can slow germination and reduce yields (Huggins, & Reganold, 2008). However, in the long run, it will lead to more gains and flourishing cropland.

Terracing, strip-cropping, and crop rotation are more natural and less intensive farming practices to care for the soil and increase crop productivity. Terracing is the practice of creating flat areas on sloping land. Strip-cropping alternates crop rows between heavy-rooted plants and loosely-rooted plants to minimize erosion. It efficiently traps soil that is washed away and protects it from wind. Crop rotation uses the same land to grow different crops in successive seasons or years and has been found to significantly reduce soil runoff by as much as 17 tons/ acre in some farm areas (Piken, Trent, Hazlett, & Bierman, 2007). If farmers utilized more conservative and efficient practices, soil erosion rates would decrease.

            Stronger regulations for pesticides and fertilizers are of high importance. A study evaluating the effects of genetically modified crops and pesticide use found that overall pesticide use in the US increased 7% (404 million pounds) over the past 16 years (Benbrook, 2012). Pesticide use can protect crop losses and lead to yield reduction, but they harm humans and the land. They destroy the contents of soil. Over time, heavy treatment with pesticides can diminish populations of beneficial soil microorganisms. Losing both bacteria and fungi causes soil to degrade. The overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides affect the soil in similar ways that overuse of antibiotics affect humans. Indiscriminate use of chemicals might work for a few years, but in the long-run, there are not enough beneficial soil organisms to hold onto the nutrients (Savonen, 1997).The chemical also contaminate the crops grown in the soil and end up in the food supply, left to harm human and animal life. Estimated health and environmental health costs due to the recommended use of pesticides costs the US about $10 billion per year (Pimentel, Hepperly, Hanson & et al., 2005). The existence of pesticides and fertilizers in the soil needs to diminish.

Another goal for Washington to minimize soil erosion is to preserve the land and limit settlement. There is coastal land, mountainous regions, glacial origins, especially in the Puget Sound, and many swales, gullies, and drainage channels adjacent to shore sites that can concentrate and accelerate water runoff and increase surface erosion. Natural processes can be aggravated by human interference. Construction or road building in marginally stable areas can accelerate erosion and mass soil movements of Washington land (Managing vegetation on coastal slopes, n.d.). In addition, tourism is popular in Washington but it poses a threat due to the compacting of soil from constant recreational use. Both tourism and construction activities replace important land and lead to a loss of soil fertility, water-retention capability, and a disruption of gas and nutrient composition.

            The target agency with the authority to influence drastic change both in Washington and the United States is The U. S. President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. They list managing new pests, pathogens, and invasive plants; increasing the efficiency of water use; reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture; growing food in a changing climate; managing the production of bioenergy; producing safe and nutritious food; assisting with global food security and maintaining abundant yields as the most crucial series of challenges agriculture faces. The list does not include “soil conservation.” Without adequate soil supply, the listed challenges will be exacerbated. There needs to be more attention solely placed on soil.

            There are a lot of sources for potential support of soil conservation policies. Allies for soil conservation in Washington include the Department of Ecology for the State of Washington Forrest Protection Association (WFPA), and Cascade Harvest Coalition.The Department of Ecology focuses on hazardous waste and toxics reduction, shoreline and environmental assistance, and water quality. They provide soil erosion control strategies and could assist in strengthening policies to prevent pesticide and fertilizer use. The WFPA establishes balanced forest policies that encourage investment in forestland, protection of fish, water and wildlife and promote responsible forest management as a preferred land use. They do not focus a tremendous amount of energy in soil conservation; however, soil health is critical to forrest conservation. With soil conservation awareness and pesticide use education, stakeholders from the WFPA may commit more effort to protecting soil. The Cascade Harvest Coalition offers programs and activities to connect consumers and producers. One of their four goals is to promote preservation and protection of agricultural lands and resources.

A larger ally, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), serves the Nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth and could help collects, monitors, analyzes, and provides scientific understanding about soil degradation and erosion in Washington.  They provide impartial scientific information to resource managers, planners, and other customers. Their mission is to understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect human quality of life. Other agencies that can help advocate for soil health management are The Washington state Soil Health Committee and Washington University.

By signing the petition, you can help break down barriers to increase soil conservation efforts. Sign the online petition to stop intensive farming practices, reduce pesticide and fertilizer use, and preserve the land and minimize settlement in Washington. Measurement of success will be the number of people who sign the petition and the response of Washington congressman, Joe Fitzgibbon (WA-D). I am going to send Joe Fitzgibbon the petition and details about soil conservation because he is the chair of the House of Environment committee in Washington. I noticed that the committee considers issues in relation to air quality, aquatic lands, oil spill prevention, recycling and solid waste, hazardous waste, toxics, climate change and parks and recreation. They neglect to make soil conservation a priority. It is time for Washington to focus more on soil. WA needs to develop smart environmental policies and regulations that will protect threatened soil and water resources for generations to come.