The Plowprint Report: 2018

The 2018 Plowprint Report by WWF International documents the conversion of grasslands to cropland in the Great Plains and Northern Great Plains (NGP). While overall conversion decreased in 2017, South Dakota experienced an increase in grassland loss. The report highlights the ecological and financial risks of plowing marginal soils, which leads to soil erosion and expensive water treatment for downstream communities. It urges the US government to use the 2018 Farm Bill to strengthen conservation programs like the Sodsaver policy, CRP, and EQIP to protect remaining intact grasslands.

• In 2017, the Great Plains saw a decrease in grassland conversion to cropland, with over 800,000 fewer acres converted than in 2016, although 1.7 million acres were still lost.
• While most of the Northern Great Plains (NGP) saw a decrease in conversion, South Dakota's grasslands were converted at an accelerating rate, increasing by approximately 58,000 acres compared to 2016.
• Since 2009, WWF estimates that 57.4 million acres in the Great Plains and 12.2 million acres in the NGP have been converted to cropland.
• A significant portion of plowed land consists of low and marginal quality soils: 17% (over 63 million acres) in the Great Plains and nearly 30% (15 million acres) in the NGP.
• The conversion of grasslands to cropland increases sediment and nutrient loading in water, forcing downstream cities to spend significant funds on filtration; for example, Wichita, Kansas, spent $350-400 million on an aquifer storage and recovery system.
• The 2018 Farm Bill is identified as a critical legislative opportunity to protect grasslands by expanding the Sodsaver policy, maintaining Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) enrollment of 8-10 million acres annually, and increasing Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands allocations.

APA

WWF International (2018). The Plowprint Report: 2018. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1144/69bqrko0x_PlowprintReport_2018_FINAL_082318LowRes.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. The Plowprint Report: 2018. 2018. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1144/69bqrko0x_PlowprintReport_2018_FINAL_082318LowRes.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=The Plowprint Report: 2018 |date=2018 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1144/69bqrko0x_PlowprintReport_2018_FINAL_082318LowRes.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2018plowprint, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{The Plowprint Report: 2018}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2018}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1144/69bqrko0x_PlowprintReport_2018_FINAL_082318LowRes.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }