8095

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8095
• Author: National Research Council.
• Title: Impacts of Emerging Agricultural Trends on Fish and Wildlife Habitat.
• USFW Year: 1982.
• USFW - Doc Type: Washington, D.C.
• Copyright Material: NO

Chapter 2

MEASURING AND INCORPORATING WILDLIFE AND HABITAT VALUES
IN LAND AND WATER USE DECISIONS

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN AGRICULTURAL TRENDS
AND WILDLIFE HABITAT

Farming, be it for fish or corn, is an activity in which natural
environments are modified to enhance production of harvestable goods.
In addition to the benefits of farming, there may also be adverse
consequences. For instance, environmental modifications undertaken to
increase crop flows may result in disturbances that reduce the
availability of wildlife habitat. The habitat may be destroyed as a
direct result of tillage and harvesting activities, or it may be
reduced in quality as a result of residual flows into water bodies
resulting in sedimentation and chemical loads. Some changes in
farming practices may have a positive effect on fish and wildlife
habitats, enhancing the flow of fish and wildlife goods.
The relationships between agricultural trends and wildlife
habitats fall into three categories:

1. One value is substituted for another. Increasing the
agricultural output reduces habitat availability or quality (e.g., the
draining of marginal wetlands for crop production) .
2. The two values are complementary. Changing certain
agricultural practices increases habitat availability or quality
(e.g., shifting to reduced tillage practices increases wildlife food,
cover, and water quality).
3. The two values are independent of each other. Changing
certain agricultural practices has no impact on habitat availability
or quality (e.g., changing row crop rotation has no effect on general
habitat characteristics).

NATIONAL VERSUS REGIONAL IMPACTS

The trends in U.S. agriculture being assessed in this report may not
be unidirectional for all regions of the country. For example, if
rising energy prices provide incentives for food production closer to
major population centers, then food and livestock production may
become more diverse around cities and less intensive in other areas.
Likewise, increased irrigation east of the Mississippi River is
anticipated, whereas reduced irrigation is expected in the West.
These changes will likely benefit wildlife in the West and be to the

5