Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators, 2003

Ralph Heimlich

Agriculture Handbook No. (AH722) , February 2003

This report identifies trends in land, water, and biological resources and commercial input use, reports on the condition of natural resources used in the agricultural sector, and describes and assesses public policies that affect conservation and environmental quality in agriculture. Combining data and information, this report examines the complex connections among farming practices, conservation, and the environment, which are increasingly important components in U.S. agriculture and farm policy. The report also examines the economic factors that affect resource use and estimates costs and benefits to farmers, consumers, and the government of meeting conservation and environmental goals. The report takes stock of how natural resources (land, water and biological resources) and commercial inputs (nutrients, pesticides, seed and machinery) are used in the agricultural sector; shows how they contribute to environmental quality; and links use and quality to technological change, production practices, and farm programs. The report is available only in electronic format.

Keywords: AREI, agricultural economics, land, land use, land value, land ownership, water use, irrigation, natural resources, conservation, environment, chemical use, fertilizer, pesticides, biodiversity, soil erosion, soil conservation, ERS, USDA

In this report ...

Chapters are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.

Contents

• 1. Land and Farm Resources
  
  • 1.1 Land Use, 469 kb
  • 1.2 Farm Real Estate Values, Rents, and Taxes, 871 kb
  • 1.3 Land Ownership and Farm Structure, 1,154 kb
• 2. Water Resources
  • 2.1 Water Use and Pricing, 874 kb
  • 2.2 Irrigation Water Management, 420 kb
  • 2.3 Water Quality Impacts of Agriculture, 1,017 kb
• 3. Biological Resources
  • 3.1 Biological Resources and Agriculture, 1,356 kb
  • 3.2 Crop Genetic Resources, 155 kb
  • 3.3 Wildlife Resources Conservation, 296 kb
• 4. Agricultural Production Management
  • 4.1 Agricultural Production Management Overview, 239 kb
  • 4.2 Soil Management and Conservation, 1,126 kb
  • 4.3 Pest Management, 1,055 kb
  • 4.4 Nutrient Use and Management Practices, 462 kb
• 5. Agricultural Productivity and Research
  • 5.1 Agricultural Productivity, 93 kb
  • 5.2 Agricultural Research and Development, 354 kb
• 6. Domestic Conservation and Environmental Policies Affecting Agriculture
  • 6.1 Overview of Conservation Programs and Expenditures, 382 kb
  • 6.2 Land Retirement, 203 kb
  • 6.3 Compliance Provisions for Soil and Wetland Conservation, 337 kb
  • 6.4 Water Quality Programs, 459 kb
  • 6.5 Wetlands Programs, 437 kb
• 7. U.S. Agriculture and Global Resources
  • 7.1 Sustainable Resource Use and Global Food Security, 622 kb
  • 7.2 Impacts of Rising Concentrations of Greenhouse Gases, 1,827 kb
• Appendix: Agricultural Resource Surveys and Data, 176 kb

For previous editions, please see:

• 1996-97
• 1994

Updated date: February 13, 2003