Barriers to Implementation of the 2008 Farm Bill Conservation Programs and their Implications in Manure Management

The working land conservation programs in the 2008 Farm Bill are capable of enhancing environmental and public health, along with encouraging innovation that will yield sustainable agriculture. Progress in this arena is pivotal, as concerns about links among agricultural practices, environmental degradation, and public health increase. The implementation of these conservation programs can have a significant impact on the nation's long-term food security and the reduction of health risks, such as cancer related to elevated nitrate and pesticide levels, contamination of groundwater with pathogens, and exposure to heavy metals through soil erosion. The question remains, however, how effectively these policies will be translated into practice.