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Saving the soil EDITOR: James Krohe Jr. is to be complimented on a fine series of articles dealing with the soil loss problem in Illinois. The awareness and attention of many people will be needed if we are to make substantial progress in seeing erosion controlled. Your efforts in this regard are greatly appreciated. There is one part of your series which has caused concern, however. The figure of 11.7 tons per acre annually has been used as the average soil loss on Illinois farms. I do not want to appear trivial, yet the prominent position this figure had in the fourth part of the series draws obvious attention. The figure normally used in this instance is nearly half of the 11.7 you used. The Soil Conservation Service's most recent survey indicates the average soil loss on Illinois cropland is 6.7 tons. The only instance I have seen the 11.7 ton figure used was in reference to average soil losses on that cropland which does not meet "T" value. You used in one of your articles 208 Plan data which stated 60% of Illinois cropland is currently meeting "T" value. To use the 11.7 ton figure in application to all cropland is a very gross overstatement of the seriousness of the problem in Illinois. I am sincere in my compliments on your effort. Your magazine does a very fine job of reaching a group of people which we in the agricultural community often do not reach on a regular basis. This non-agricultural portion of our state is very important to a clear understanding and a reasonable resolution being brought to this problem. Jon Scholl, Director EDITOR: I want to commend Illinois Issues and especially Contributing Editor James Krohe Jr. for the very fine article on "Saving the Soil" in your December issue. I think Jim Krohe has defined the problem, identified the players and addressed the known alternatives to a complex issue. I believe one of the impediments to farm community enthusiasm for erosion control has been the vast array of agencies with interlocking responsibilities. Farmers are sometimes confused by the relationships of those agencies and as a result may defer a conservation program. Jim Krohe has clearly identified the principal agencies and the functions. I am certainly going to recommend the article to others, it will help broaden our base of understanding. A must if we are going to make progress in solving the soil loss problem. Gilbert Fricke EDITOR: This letter is written in reference to your series of articles on "Illinois' Precious Soil," specifically, the "Illinois' disappearing soil," September 1981, and "The breaking of the prairie," October 1981 articles. Recently, I took a short trip with a friend to the town of Galena, Illinois. We drove from a tightly-knit urbanized area out to the area of spacious farms. I felt overwhelmed with pride when viewing our rich, vast land that seems to be so full of potential life. Yet behind this beauty of land lies the foreboding consideration of how long this prime land will exist as we know it today. With only two other states having more prime farmland than Illinois, we cannot continue to lose this valuable asset. How long will it be before our highways, homes, schools, shopping centers, etcetera are built upon this prime land? Will our present farming technology really improve our land and even, perhaps, put a halt to erosion and soil exhaustion? As mentioned in your article, 1 understand that the local, state and federal governments are reexamining their attitudes towards the permissible usage of the farmlands. Also, that the farmers are implementing new farming methods (e.g., minimum tillage techniques). However, I feel that there is a price to pay and that one problem may lead to another. Will legislation in one area create animosity in farmers' that fosters additional neglect in other areas? Is technology perceived as the solution or just a salve? As an Illinois college student, I now anticipate involvement in this problem because of your articles. Rural public transportation EDITOR: I have been receiving Illinois Issues for one year and have found it to be very informative. As director of a Rural Public Transportation System, I read your articles on transportation and RTA vs. Downstate with much interest. In fact, our system operates in Pope, Hardin, Gallatin and Saline counties. Two of those counties (Pope and Hardin), you referred to as "river rats." See October issue, "Looking down on Chicago." In the year I have been receiving the magazine, many articles have been printed about the RTA. My reason for writing is to inform you of the Rural Transportation Systems operating in Illinois. These systems provide excellent transportation service in sparsely populated areas where dirt and gravel roads and wooden bridges are the norm and not looked upon as a scenic attraction. I invite you to come down and see what rural transportation is all about. We stand to lose just as much as our northern counterpart if funds are cut. Betty Green, Project Director March 1982/IUinois Issues/5 |
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