1. So we know that the erosion equations are wrong (http://talk.newagtalk.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=146286&mid=1039551#M1039551 ) and USDA continues to use bad equations for regulatory purposes. Scientists have had the technology to resolve the problems for a decade now (but no one has),
You all praise the work of NRCS but if you read the research on hypoxia in the Northern Gulf of Mexico, you’ll find that lack of sediment (i.e. erosion) is a major issue in hypoxia – there is not enough sediment in the Mississippi River to sustain the Delta. The ”Big Muddy” got its name long before the heartland was farmed. And read the notes from the Lewis & Clark Expedition about how much sediment was in the Missouri River during that expedition. Do we blow up the dams that trap the sediment to save the Delta?

2. This is one I love. Algae production consumes more energy, has higher greenhouse gas emissions and uses more water than other biofuel sources, such as switchgrass, canola and corn.
Andres F. Clarens, Eleazer P. Resurreccion, Mark A. White and Lisa M. Colosi. Environmental Life Cycle Comparison of Algae to Other Bioenergy Feedstocks. Environmental Science & Technology, 2010; 100119091456057 DOI: 10.1021/es902838n  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100121135856.htm

3. This one reminds me of the recent studies on no-till production. Scientists are typically loathe to test fundamental beliefs (such as no-till is always beneficial). This one affects all of the formulas used by regulatory agencies – from herbicide transport to soil erosion (above). A new study showed -- much to the surprise of the researchers -- that soil clings tenaciously to the first precipitation after a dry summer, and holds it so tightly that it almost never mixes with other water. In one test, after the first large rainstorm in October, only 4 percent of the precipitation entering the soil ended up in the stream -- 96 percent was taken up and held tightly by soil around plants to recharge soil moisture. A month later when soil moisture was fully recharged, 55 percent of precipitation went directly into streams. And as winter rains continue to pour moisture into the ground, almost all of the water that originally recharged the soil around plants remains held tightly in the soil -- it never moves or mixes. This might suggest that we know a lot less than we thought we did," http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100121173452.htm