Dust emission from cropland and rangeland is problematic in many areas, particularly where dry conditions and high wind velocities exist. Producers and specialists need a resource with in-depth solutions to specific dust and wind erosion problems. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the USDA Southern Plains and Southwest Climate Hubs has developed a new resource – the Dust Mitigation Handbook. The Handbook was authored by a team of NRCS and Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists, including Steve Smarik, NRCS State Resource Conservationist for Arizona and Liaison to the USDA Southern Plains and Southwest Climate Hubs in 2018-2019. The Handbook represents a “OneUSDA” vision for conservation management under varying and changing environmental conditions, and is intended for resource managers in USDA and other land management agencies who are struggling with dust challenges and working with producers to craft solutions. For a changing future, where uncertain climate and water supply conditions may prompt farmers to fallow increasing acreage of once-actively planted cropland, this Handbook is comes as a timely resource.
