Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators, 1996-97 by
Margot Anderson and Richard Magleby Agricultural Handbook No.
(AH-712) 350 pp, July 1997 This report identifies trends in
land, water, 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, when data permit, estimates the costs
and benefits (to farmers, consumers, and the government) of
meeting conservation and environmental goals. The report takes
stock of how natural resources (land and water) and commercial
inputs (energy, nutrients, pesticides, and machinery) are used
in the agricultural sector; s