Summary of Results

Wyoming 1997 National Resources Inventory

Land Use

The rate of conversion of land from agricultural to non-agricultural uses from 1992 to 1997 increased dramatically when compared to the 1987 to 1992 period. Approximately 97,000 acres of land became unavailable for agricultural uses from 1982 to 1997.  From 1992 to 1997, approximately 37,800 acres of land became unavailable for agricultural uses.

A significant number of acres of land where converted from cultivated cropland to other uses from 1982 to 1997.  Of particular significance to the agricultural economy of Wyoming was the conversion of 4,500 acres of cultivated cropland to non-agricultural uses and the placing of 240,600 acres of cultivated cropland into the Conservation Reserve Program.

 A healthy economy from 1992 to 1997 with the associated increase in development of urban areas, transportation systems, mineral extraction, and other non-agricultural uses has contributed to this rate of conversion.  This trend is likely to continue in the future if forecasts for a sustained good health of the nation's economy become a reality.

Natural Resources

The average annual wind erosion on cultivated cropland in Wyoming decreased by about 22 percent, or 1.8 tons per acre per year, during the 1987 to 1997 period. The percent of cultivated cropland acres undergoing a rate of wind erosion that exceeds the ability of the soil to sustain its productivity potential decreased from 1987 to 1997.

The average annual sheet and rill erosion by water erosion on cultivated cropland in the state decreased by about 20 percent, or 0.3 tons per acre per year, from 1987 to 1997. The percent of cultivated cropland acres undergoing a rate of water erosion that exceeds the ability of the soil to sustain its productivity potential decreased from 1987 to 1997.

The decrease in soil erosion on cultivated cropland from 1987 to 1997 is due to the efforts of landowners to use cultivation methods and cropping systems that control soil erosion.  Water erosion is not adversely affecting the ability of the soil to sustain agricultural productivity on the majority of the cultivated cropland in Wyoming. For the majority of the soils in cultivated cropland in 1997, the ability of the soils to sustain their productivity is greater than the amount of soil loss from wind erosion.

On the majority of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres in Wyoming in 1997, the average amount of soil loss due to wind erosion is 3 percent of the average amount of soil loss due to wind erosion on cultivated cropland.

The average amount of soil loss due to water erosion in 1997 on the majority of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres in Wyoming is 18 percent of the average amount of soil loss due to water erosion on cultivated cropland.

The amount of soil erosion on lands in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) when compared to the amount of soil erosion on cultivated cropland showcases the success of CRP in reducing soil erosion in Wyoming.