A new study released by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows that agricultural conservation practices in the upper Mississippi River watershed can reduce nitrogen runoff by as much 34%. The study combines information from USDA's Conservation Effects Assessment Program (CEAP) and the USGS SPARROW watershed evaluation program in order to assess the impacts of voluntary conservation practices. Nitrogen reductions attributed to agricultural conservation practices range from 5 to 34% and there were also reductions of 1 to 10% in phosphorus. Prior to this study, it had been difficult to determine the amount of nutrient reductions in river systems because the variability in sources of runoff can confound the results and conceal the impacts of farm conservation efforts.

"As the results of this valuable collaboration with the USGS indicate, voluntary conservation on agricultural lands is improving water quality. When multiple farmers, ranchers and working forest land managers in one region come together to apply the conservation science, the per acre conservation benefit is greatly enhanced," said USDA Natural Resources and Environment Deputy Under Secretary Ann Mills. "While there are no short-term solutions to complex water quality issues, USDA is committed to continuing these accelerated voluntary conservation efforts, using collaborative science to target conservation in watersheds where the greatest benefits can be realized."