Soil erosion significantly impacts agricultural sustainability, with conventional plowed fields eroding soil at rates 10-100 times higher than natural processes. Data from global studies show that erosion rates under conventional agriculture average 1–2 orders of magnitude greater than soil production, erosion under native vegetation, and long-term geological erosion. This imbalance makes conventional agriculture unsustainable, as it erodes soil profiles over time scales comparable to the longevity of major civilizations. In contrast, no-till agriculture produces erosion rates closer to soil production rates, potentially supporting sustainable agriculture. Historically, soil erosion has been linked to the decline of ancient civilizations, with archaeological evidence showing that deforestation and agricultural practices accelerated erosion in upland areas. Soil erosion is influenced by factors such as soil properties, slope, vegetation, and rainfall. Land use changes can greatly accelerate erosion, and excessive erosion reduces agricultural potential. However, soil fertility is also influenced by agricultural methods and site conditions, so the focus here is on soil erosion itself. The USDA established soil-loss tolerance values (T values) to evaluate acceptable erosion rates, but these values are often higher than natural erosion rates. Recent studies suggest that erosion rates under conventional agriculture exceed 0.1 mm/yr, with median and mean values over 1 mm/yr, far exceeding background rates. In contrast, no-till practices reduce erosion by 2.5 to over 1,000 times, significantly lowering erosion rates to levels closer to natural soil production rates. The comparison of erosion rates from conventional agriculture and geological erosion rates shows that conventional agriculture erodes soil much faster, leading to a critical time (Tc) required to erode through a soil profile. This time is on the order of hundreds to thousands of years, aligning with historical patterns of civilization lifespans. Continued soil loss under conventional practices will become a critical issue for global agriculture, especially with increasing population and limited new arable land. No-till and conservation agriculture practices reduce erosion significantly, supporting long-term agricultural sustainability. The data compiled here show that soil erosion rates under conventional agriculture are far above natural rates, highlighting the need for sustainable agricultural practices to maintain soil health and productivity.Soil erosion significantly impacts agricultural sustainability, with conventional plowed fields eroding soil at rates 10-100 times higher than natural processes. Data from global studies show that erosion rates under conventional agriculture average 1–2 orders of magnitude greater than soil production, erosion under native vegetation, and long-term geological erosion. This imbalance makes conventional agriculture unsustainable, as it erodes soil profiles over time scales comparable to the longevity of major civilizations. In contrast, no-till agriculture produces erosion rates closer to soil production rates, potentially supporting sustainable agriculture. Historically, soil erosion has been linked to the decline of ancient civilizations, with archaeological evidence showing that deforestation and agricultural practices accelerated erosion in upland areas. Soil erosion is influenced by factors such as soil properties, slope, vegetation, and rainfall. Land use changes can greatly accelerate erosion, and excessive erosion reduces agricultural potential. However, soil fertility is also influenced by agricultural methods and site conditions, so the focus here is on soil erosion itself. The USDA established soil-loss tolerance values (T values) to evaluate acceptable erosion rates, but these values are often higher than natural erosion rates. Recent studies suggest that erosion rates under conventional agriculture exceed 0.1 mm/yr, with median and mean values over 1 mm/yr, far exceeding background rates. In contrast, no-till practices reduce erosion by 2.5 to over 1,000 times, significantly lowering erosion rates to levels closer to natural soil production rates. The comparison of erosion rates from conventional agriculture and geological erosion rates shows that conventional agriculture erodes soil much faster, leading to a critical time (Tc) required to erode through a soil profile. This time is on the order of hundreds to thousands of years, aligning with historical patterns of civilization lifespans. Continued soil loss under conventional practices will become a critical issue for global agriculture, especially with increasing population and limited new arable land. No-till and conservation agriculture practices reduce erosion significantly, supporting long-term agricultural sustainability. The data compiled here show that soil erosion rates under conventional agriculture are far above natural rates, highlighting the need for sustainable agricultural practices to maintain soil health and productivity.