Agricultural Research Service, EPA Partner Up to Protect Watersheds
Why is EPA involved with agriculture?
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Our agricultural economy is diverse, and farming practices have beneficial AND adverse impacts on our land, air and water. We collaborate with a broad set of federal, state, local, and non-government partners to protect, maintain and improve the quality of our land, air and water.
AGRICULTURE helps drive the economies of the Region 5 states. Some statistics compiled from USDA's 2002 Census of Agriculture on the Region:
- As recently as 2002, the Region had 422,405 farms on more than 110 million acres of land.
- The average farm size is 261 acres.
- The combined crop and livestock sales in 2002 grossed $34.7 billion, for an average of $61,000 per farm.
Region 5's Commitment to Work with Agriculture:
Successful farmers must also be effective stewards of the environment in order to protect the basis of their livelihood. The Region's ability to protect and improve environmental quality depends upon effective collaboration with its partners at all levels, including the agricultural sector. We encourage the use of all available tools and resources that help agricultural producers voluntarily meet applicable environmental standards.