"Ag Today" Newspaper Column

Michael R. Milam

Agronomy Specialist and County Program Director

Daily Dunklin Democrat-Agriculture Today

June 27, 2006

Missouri’s parks and soils sales tax renewal

            As an extension supervisor with the Dunklin County Soil and Water Conservation District, I get to see the impact of putting conservation practices on the land.

            While most of us don’t remember the Dust Bowl, it was estimated that 300 million tons of soil were transported across the U.S. in dust storms. These ecological events resulted in human and economic devastation due to turning grassland into wheat ground. The droughts and the wind lead to sociological changes. There were several landmark environmental bills passed by Congress that have largely been successful in preventing a recurrence of this event. The Soil Conservation Service (now Natural Resources Conservation Service) was formed and Hugh Bennett was chosen to lead this agency. There were many policy changes and incentives offered that reduced the potential for soil erosion.

            I am currently reading a very interesting book about the impact of the Dust Bowl written by Timothy Egan, entitled "The Worst Hard Time." This book presents the reasons that the Dust Bowl occurred, the story of survivors, and the aftermath. In the epilogue of this book, the author attributes the prevention of other Dust Bowls to farmers entering into contracts with local soil and water conservation districts. A 2004 study by Zeynep K. Hansen and Gary D. Libecap looked at soil and water conservation districts and their impact on curbing future dust storms. This study, "Small Farms, Externalities, and the Dust Bowl of the 1930’s" was published in the Journal of Political Economy, June 2004, vol. 112, no 3.

            While I was not in Dunklin County during the late 1980’s, I have heard about the impact of the Mother’s Day dust storm. Since that time producers have implemented many practices that have reduced the potential for wind and water erosion. I noted this spring while driving in the county that reduced tillage and cover crops were very effective in reducing wind erosion.

            Missouri is unique in that it has proceeds for the park and soils tax that help put practices on the ground. Since the one-tenth of one percent sales tax to support the state park system and to reduce soil erosion was initially passed in 1984, Missouri has cut its annual soil loss from 10.9 tons per acre to 5.3 tons per acre in 2003. This information comes from the National Resources Inventory. Information from this website is located at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/TECHNICAL/land/nri03/SoilErosion-mrb.pdf.

            This tax was passed in 1984, and renewed in both 1988, and 1996. The renewal of the park and soil sales tax will be on the August 8 ballot as Amendment 1. An excellent article is found in the Spring/Summer Volume 23, No. 2 issue of Missouri Resources published by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. This publication can be found on-line at http://www.dnr.mo.gov/magazine/2006-summer.pdf.

            The Soil and Water Districts Commission, through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources oversees the distribution of the tax revenues to the 114 county soil and water conservation districts. The local districts work with landowners to reduce erosion and to improve water quality. Funds are used to hire personnel, fund technical assistance, and to provide information and education programs.

            The support provided by this tax has helped to increase the number and quality of facilities in the state park system. The return on the investment has been good so it will be up to the states citizens to renew this tax and to keep the benefits flowing.

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