Soil and Water Conservation Program

In the 1930s, as the Dust Bowl swept across the nation relocating an estimated 300 million tons of soil, Americans realized the devastating effects of soil erosion. Legislation began to take
shape to better manage and conserve our nation’s soil. Despite these actions, Missouri was still
plagued with high erosion rates.
scenic farm landscape in Missouri
In 1982, Missouri was losing soil at a rate of 10.9 tons per acre each year on cultivated cropland. A one-tenth-of-one-percent parks, soils and water sales tax was passed by Missouri voters in 1984 to fund state parks and soil conservation efforts. Prior to the passage of the parks, soils and water sales tax, Missouri had the second highest rate of erosion in the nation. Almost two-thirds of Missouri voters renewed the tax in 1988 and 1996. In 2006, the tax passed by its highest percentage to date (70.8). Since 1982, Missouri has reduced its rate of soil erosion more than any other state.

The majority of the soils side of this tax has been used to assist agricultural landowners through
voluntary programs that are developed by the Soil and Water Districts Commission and administered by the Soil and Water Conservation Program through district boards in each of the 114 counties. By promoting good farming practices that help keep the soil on the fields, each soil and water conservation district is conserving the productivity of our working lands.

Assistance offered by the Soil and Water Conservation Program includes:

District Grants: Each of the 114 soil and water conservation districts in Missouri receives a
district grant. These grants can be used to hire personnel, fund technical assistance and
provide information and education programs.

Cost-Share Program: This program provides incentives for landowners to install practices that
prevent or control excessive erosion, such as terraces and water impoundment reservoirs.
Landowners can request up to 75 percent of the cost of the practice to be reimbursed, after the
practice has gone through a certification process.

Agricultural Nonpoint Source Special Area Land Treatment Program:
These long-term projects focus on decreasing agricultural nonpoint source pollution in
watersheds. AgNPS SALT uses total resource management to decrease sediments, pesticides
and nutrients entering waterways.

The department’s Soil and Water Conservation Program also provides money for university
research, district benefits and administrative costs. The program receives no general revenue
funding for soil and water conservation efforts.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Soil and Water Conservation Program is to administer the policies and general programs developed by the Soil and Water Districts Commission for the saving of Missouri soil and water through the soil and water conservation districts in their work with landowners.

Soil and Water Conservation Program
P.O. Box 176
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: 573-751-4932
Toll-free: 800-361-4827