[unclebilly]

This is really location specific as to what rules are in play around redirecting water.

You are absolutely correct that soil gets 'burned out' by modern farming practices. Our fields are really hard to reclaim for grass or grazing land, it takes years an numerous applications of manure. The modern seed varieties for barley, wheat, and canola basically use the soil to hold the crop in place. The fertilizer, sun, and rain are what grow the crop.

We stubble graze our land so it typically does better than the 1/4s around us that don't get an winter of cow 5hit and subsequent harrowing.