overview
Agricultural production uses land, fertilizers, pesticides, water, and other inputs that can have an impact on the environment and potentially harm human and ecosystem health. This ERS research program conducts economic research on the efficiency, effectiveness and equity of policies and programs directed toward improving the environmental performance of the agricultural sector.

In recent years, the scope of problems addressed in resource policy has expanded to encompass the onsite and offsite problems with soil erosion, the impacts of animal waste, nutrients, and pesticides on surface-and groundwater quality, the impacts of agriculture on coastal resources, and the preservation and restoration of wetlands and other important wildlife habitat. Income and price support programs, while a declining focus of agricultural policy, are still an important influence on producers' environmental performance. Conservation and environmental policies affecting agriculture are fruitful areas of inquiry for resource economists. More overview...

features
The Conservation Reserve Program: Economic Implications for Rural America—The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) offers incentives for producers and landowners to voluntarily retire highly erodible and other environmentally sensitive cropland from production for 10-15 years. While the program’s benefits to the environment, CRP participants, and other crop farmers have made it a recurring focus of farm program legislation, the CRP’s effect on farm communities has been a concern. Enrollment in CRP could weaken demand for farm inputs and agricultural marketing services, and many rural economies depend on such ancillary services. Nonetheless, the results of a statistical analysis indicate that, in the aggregate, impacts on rural communities have been limited. Amber Waves summary article (10/04)

Measuring the Success of Conservation Programs—Due to the influence and interactions of many factors, evaluation of conservation programs is a data-intensive and technically challenging process. Simply identifying changes in farmers’ practices (let alone environmental quality) is an insufficient basis for judging the success of a conservation program. This article provides an overview of the steps necessary for evaluating the success of conservation program.(9/04)

Environmental Compliance in U.S. Agricultural Policy: Past Performance and Future Potential—Since 1985, U.S. agricultural producers have been required to practice soil conservation on highly erodible cropland and conserve wetlands as a condition of farm program eligibility. This report discusses the general characteristics of compliance incentives, evaluates their effectiveness in reducing erosion in the program’s current form, and explores the potential for expanding the compliance approach to address nutrient runoff from crop production. Amber Waves summary article (6/04)

Beyond Environmental Compliance: Stewardship as Good Business—Agriculture is intrinsically linked to the environment. Both crop and animal production generate pollutants that enter the air as well as surface and ground waters. Agricultural pollution is difficult to control. However, growing evidence suggests that good economic performance by producers is compatible with good environmental performance. (April 2004)

Agriculture and the Environment In the United States and EU—Both the United States and the EU utilize agri-environmental programs to encourage the provision of environmental amenities and to reduce negative environmental effects associated with agriculture. Both target environmental objectives through a mixture of voluntary programs, regulatory programs, and “cross-compliant” programs. Nonetheless, the two countries differ in the types of programs, in implementation, and in the objectives of agri-environmental policy. (February 2004)

Emphasis Shifts in U.S. Agri-Environmental Policy—Recognizing the negative impact that some farming practices (excess fertilization and manure, for example) can have on our Nation's natural resources, policymakers have been devoting more attention and funding to agri-environmental policies and programs. Until 2002, the bulk of conservation funds went toward land retirement. This article examines shifts in the emphasis of U.S. Agric-environmental policy associated with the 2002 Farm Act.


recommended readings
Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators—Section 6 of this report describes and assesses public policies that affect conservation and environmental quality in agriculture.

Economics of Sequestering Carbon in the U.S. Agricultural Sector—Atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases can be reduced by withdrawing carbon from the atmosphere and sequestering it in soils and biomass. This report analyzes the performance of alternative incentive designs and payment levels if farmers were paid to adopt land uses and management practices that raise soil carbon levels. Amber Waves summary article (March 2004)

Environmental Payments to Farmers: Issues of Program Design—Interest is growing in broadening the array of government programs that would improve the environmental performance of agriculture while providing income support to agricultural producers.

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recommended data products
Data that highlight important information associated with ERS's research on conservation and environmental policy.

recent research developments
Meetings, conferences, and activities of researchers in the ag chemicals and production area.

related briefing room
Agricultural Chemicals and Production Technology
Global Climate Change
Global Resources and Productivity
Invasisve Species Management
Irrigation and Water Use
Land Use, Value, and Management
Organic Farming and Marketing
Farm Policy, Farm Households, and the Rural Economy

questions and answers
Important research questions and answers about policy issues with animal waste, conservation, water quality, coastal resources, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), and wetlands policy. New questions have been added to the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) section.

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maps and images gallery
ERS maps related to conservation and environmental policies.

NRCS maps related to conservation and environmental topics.

poll
Are there other conservation and environmental policy topics not addressed here in which you would be interested?
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for more information, contact: Marc Ribaudo
web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov
page updated: October 12, 2004