How much will erosion control cost?
While estimates of some of the costs of soil erosion control have been made, a definitive estimate is not possible. Using a mathematical model, an estimate of the minimum cost way of achieving losses of three tons per acre per year in Illinois was made based on the assumption that 74 per cent of the state’s cropland (instead of the current 28 per cent) would be put into conservation tillage. If this were the case, the impact on farm income would be about 1 per cent (3 per cent if the soil loss restriction were applied in states throughout the corn belt) which is considerably less than the annual variation due to weather and other causes. However, while the total impact on Illinois farm income is relatively small, some farmers would be hurt because they would not be able to continue producing row crops, while other farmers would be helped through better prices. Included in this estimate is an annualized cost of terracing and contouring of about $18.5 million which would be shifted in pa
