This study uses national‑scale modeling process to compare wind‑driven soil and carbon loss on US croplands versus rangelands. We found that, per unit area, croplands lose about seven times more soil and three times more soil organic carbon each year than rangelands. However, dense vegetation and strong biological activity make croplands highly resilient, rapidly replenishing most of the lost carbon. Rangelands, in contrast, lose smaller amounts but recover poorly due to sparse vegetation, leading to gradual soil‑carbon decline. Additionally, wind erosion on croplands occurs in concentrated bursts after tillage exposes bare soil, whereas on rangelands it is driven by chronic vegetation loss—particularly from overgrazing. These results indicate the need for different erosion‑control and conservation strategies for croplands and rangelands.