Solutions to water quality problems: USDA's role

Excerpt

No segment of our society has a more direct interest in protecting our environment than do farmers. Water is among their most basic tools. American farmers want to keep good land in business, and they want to keep it good land. Farmers and their families are the first people who suffer from impaired water quality.

But farmers need more information on alternative agricultural practices-farming methods that will help them protect the environment and make a decent living at the same time. These are compatible goals.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is helping by developing new technology and providing appropriate information to farmers. Research on biological alternatives to synthetic pesticides and on sustainable farming methods is progressing and promising. There have been some remarkable successes in these areas. But we are still a long way from consistent, reliable, and economical alternatives to fertilizers and pesticides, at least on a broad scale. We all need to realize that we cannot abruptly stop chemical use at this time.

We do, however, need to take a rational look at the chemicals used in agriculture. Most of these chemicals are demonstrably safe when used properly. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA …