Including pasture and forest lands, almost 80 percent of the state is in agricultural use. In addition to assuring an abundant and affordable food supply, Hoosier farmers must also strive to protect the environment. The same technology that helps to feed the world has brought increasing pressures on our natural resources. Advanced equipment, improved plant genetics, commercial fertilizers and pesticides are the tools of modern agriculture that have dramatically improved the amount and quality of our food supply. While these tools are a tremendous help when used properly, if mismanaged, the potential for damaging the environment does exist.
Good management is the key to protecting environmental quality.
This publication describes some important environmental concerns and offers management alternatives. Sediment Exposed soil is susceptible to erosion by wind and rain. Activities such as tillage, crop harvest, construction or any other earth-moving activity, can leave soil exposed. In flat open fields, wind erosion can be a major problem affecting the quality of both air and water. Rainfall causes soil water erosion and, unlike wind erosion, soil water erosion generally occurs on hilly or sloping land.