Protecting our soil with perennials national acreage goals

Protecting our soil with perennials: national acreage goals Wes Jackson, President, The Land Institute, Salina, Kansas

Five-year farm bills address: § § • Exports Commodities Subsidies Some soil conservation measures Food programs

A 50 -Year Farm Bill would be a program using 5 -year farm bills as mileposts, adding larger, more sustainable end goals to existing programs

50 -Year Farm Bill §Protect soil from erosion §Cut fossil fuel dependence to zero §Sequester carbon §Reduce toxics in soil and water §Manage nitrogen carefully §Reduce dead zones §Cut wasteful water use §Preserve or rebuild farm communities

Five-year farm bills: § § Exports Commodities Subsidies Some soil conservation measures § Food programs 50 -Year Farm Bill: • Protect soil from erosion • Cut fossil fuel dependence to zero • Sequester carbon • Reduce toxics in soil and water • Manage nitrogen carefully • Reduce dead zones • Cut wasteful water use • Preserve or rebuild farm communities

Erosion in Iowa cornfield, June 2008

Flint Hills Prairie Kansas Native Prairie, June 2008

Changes in USDA program priorities to increase the productive lifespan of US cropland

Conclusion: Production at the expense of conservation OR Conservation at the expense of production.

Erosion in Iowa cornfield, June 2008

Conclusion: Conservation as the consequence of production is possible

Flint Hills Prairie Kansas Native Prairie, June 2008

THE LAND SALINA, KANSAS www. landinstitute. org INSTITUTE