KindHarvest summary: Soil degradation carries costs far beyond an individual field. Farm Progress reported an estimate of up to US$85 billion a year in societal and environmental costs from soil loss and degradation in the United States, placing soil health at a critical economic as well as ecological juncture.
The wider significance
Loss of topsoil, weaker soil structure and declining biological function can affect productivity, water infiltration and nutrient retention. The consequences can then move off-farm through sediment, nutrient loss and greater pressure on waterways and public infrastructure.
Practices such as keeping soil covered, maintaining living roots, reducing unnecessary disturbance and diversifying rotations are commonly used to rebuild function. Their effects vary with soil, climate and management, so progress is best judged with field observations and measurements over time.
Why it matters
The cost estimate reframes soil as productive infrastructure. Protecting it can support farm performance while reducing costs that otherwise appear downstream or in future seasons. That makes soil health a shared concern for growers, advisers, researchers and policy makers.
Source and credit
This KindHarvest Team brief is based on reporting by Barry Teater for Farm Progress, published 9 September 2022. Read the original article at Farm Progress.