This paper sets out to clarify the factors in soil erosion and soil conservation. The Czech Republic struggles with soil conservation. Shifts in the rural economy, the loss of good-quality agricultural soil to urbanisation, and sub-optimal land management leading to erosion are at issue. Here, we apply quantitative and qualitative methods to assess erosion risk, whilst considering legislative and policy measures and the responsibility of individual farmer. The studied area was the cadastral district of Rtyně-Podkrkonoší. This choice was based on the fact that farmland there is classified as being subject to ‘no risk’ under current reference measures with regard to soil erosion, and yet 18 erosion events in this area were reported over a period of three years. Our results provide evidence that current measures are insufficient. Although applicable standards were followed, the farmland in question has undergone repeated erosion, whilst soil conservation practice has been ineffective. Compared to the farmland owner, who invests in long-term management, we highlight the problem when a land manager prefers short-term returns. Our assessment of soil erosion was focused on repeated erosion reports that were filed in the monitoring system in relation to farmland parcels managed by a company specialising in maize production. The tolerable erosion rate of 4/t/ha/y was exceeded on all land parcels.