An Agronomy Professor from Iowa State University says some of the current trends in agriculture point to significant challenges in the future.
Doctor Rick Cruse pointed out to members of the Huron Soil and Crop Association yesterday that global population is increasing and that places more demands on agriculture to feed that growing population.
At the same time erosion reduces the productive capacity of the soil that's being farmed.
Cruse is worried that at some point those two trends are going to meet.
According to Cruse, there isn't one solution for all erosion problem – each situation is different.
But there are a few general principals.
He says nature tells us where there are problems with running water because those areas eventually turn into gullies so grass waterways are essential in those areas.
He adds cover crops are effective in reducing erosion and improving soil quality and he also recommends reducing tillage as a way of keeping soil in place.
Cruse points out there are other methods depending on the situation but those are the big three.
Cruse also suggests the threat of erosion is growing with climate change.
He points out there is a greater variation in the types of storms we're seeing with many more intense storms and in the Central U-S the data shows there is more time between rainfall events but an increase in the total amount of rainfall.
He adds those storms are more erosive and cause more damage and so it becomes more important to take steps to keep water and soil in place in the face of increasing threats.
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Doctor Rick Cruse talked about the need to keep soil on the land in order to meet the growing demand for food.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/CRUSE-Erosion-1.mp3"][/audio]
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Cruse suggests three general solutions for erosion problems - starting with grass waterways where there is water rushing to the lake.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/CRUSE-Erosion-2.mp3"][/audio]
