STEEP Impact Assessment: 30 years of Solutions To Environmental and Economic Problems.

Severe soil erosion in the 1970s on the Palouse led to the formation of a multi-state effort to solve environmental problems named STEEP (Solutions to Environmental and Economic Problems). This impact assessment sought to document the 30-year success of improving environmental impacts while bettering the economic viability of farming, and look at lessons learned. Methods—We used four methods a) We summarized reports, scientific papers, and prior overview publications. b) We conducted interviews with prominent farmers to get their opinions on the STEEP program. c) We used the RUSLE2 computer model to predict how erosion was reduced during the 30 STEEP years. d) We studied other assessments that were published during the STEEP years. Results—Erosion from farmland, and sediment in the Palouse River were reduced as many farmers switched to conservation tillage farming methods that also save time and money. For 30 years, STEEP brought together researchers in many fields of expertise from WSU, OSU, UI and the Agricultural Research Service to solve problems as a team. STEEP was also able to attract additional funding for research. STEEP successfully took the research to the farmers, so they could apply it to their farms. This assessment shows how STEEP successfully tackled complex challenges in a multi-state, multi-agency approach. A program like STEEP, can successfully solve the very complicated demands placed on agriculture today: feeding the nation while providing biofuels, and protecting the environment.