WATER-RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS OF MIDWEST AGROECOSYSTEMS

Agriculture contributes to nonpoint-source pollution of the nation's w ater resources through leaching and runoff of crop nutrients, pesticid es, and animal wastes, and through soil erosion from cropland. Develop ment of effective solutions to water quality problems resulting from a gricultural activities requires input of information synthesized from many disciplines, and coordination and integration of various scientif ic and technical programs. This article describes a program for synthe sizing information resulting from USDA, USEPB, and USGS projects into evaluations of the regional impact of existing and innovative agroecos ystems on surfacewater and groundwater quality. The program involves t wo facets with equal function and importance: assembling and analyzing information to characterize Midwest agroecosystems and to estimate wa ter quality response; and developing effective systems for disseminati ng information and technology to end users. Four phases are presented as sequential, interdependent components of the program: (i) informati on acquisition and assessment; (ii) synthesis and systems development; (iii) education and technology transfer; and (iv) evaluation. integra tion of information from water quality programs in the Midwest will pr ovide it comprehensive and regional analysis, and can serve as the bas is for disseminating information and technology necessary to implement agricultural management systems with maximum potential for protecting water resources. Regional analysis can also serve as input into the d evelopment of agricultural policy that is compatible with the nation's environmental and fiscal goals.