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Amber Waves, September 2004 Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERS' research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or "e-zine," includes links to web-only resources. 9/1/2004 9:00:00 AM 49.95/year 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. This article provides an overview of the steps necessary for evaluating the success of conservation program. These steps must address two questions: 1) How do different farm operators in different circumstances decide what production and conservation practices to implement, in the presence and absence of the conservation program being evaluated, at different levels of incentives provided by that program?; and 2) How do the farm practices attributable to conservation program incentives affect environmental quality? 9/1/2004 9:00:00 AM Amber Waves, June 2004 Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERS' research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or "e-zine," includes links to web-only resources. 6/1/2004 1:00:00 PM 49.95/year Have Conservation Compliance Incentives Reduced Soil Erosion? With the 1985 Food Security Act, farmers are required to engage in conservation activities in order to receive government payments. This article focuses on the soil erosion impacts of "conservation compliance", which requires producers to apply and maintain conservation systems on highly erodible (HEL) cropland that was already in crop production in 1985 or risk losing government farm price and income support. The article finds that following implementation of conservation compliance and other conservation policy changes, soil erosion on U.S. cropland fell significantly. 6/1/2004 1:00:00 PM 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. While soil erosion has, in fact, been reduced on land subject to Conservation Compliance, erosion is also down on land not subject to Conservation Compliance, indicating the influence of other factors. Analysis to isolate the influence of Conservation Compliance incentives from other factors suggests that about 25 percent of the decline in soil erosion between 1982 and 1997 can be attributed to Conservation Compliance. This report also finds that compliance incentives have likely deterred conversion of noncropped highly erodible land and wetland to cropland, and that a compliance approach could be used effectively to address nutrient runoff from crop production. ERSAER832 52 pp 6/1/2004 12:00:00 PM 27.00 Amber Waves, April 2004 Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERS' research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or "e-zine," includes links to web-only resources. 4/1/2004 1:00:00 PM 49.95/year Beyond Environmental Compliance: Stewardship as Good Business Both crop and animal production generate pollutants that enter the air as well as surface and ground waters. Such pollution is difficult to control, and programs designed to address agricultural pollution have remained largely voluntary. However, growing evidence suggests that good economic performance is compatible with good environmental performance. Recent ERS analysis suggests that agricultural producers can benefit economically by voluntarily adopting environmentally beneficial practices. 4/1/2004 12:00:00 PM Amber Waves, November 2003 Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERS' research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or "e-zine," includes links to web-only resources. 11/7/2003 2:05:00 PM 49.95/year Amber Waves, September 2003 Amber Waves presents the broad scope of ERS' research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, Amber Waves is issued in print five times a year (February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition, or "e-zine," includes links to web-only resources. 9/8/2003 4:00:00 PM 49.95/year Manure Management for Water Quality: Costs to Animal Feeding Operations of Applying Manure Nutrients to Land Nutrients from livestock and poultry manure are key sources of water pollution. Ever-growing numbers of animals per farm and per acre have increased the risk of water pollution. New Clean Water Act regulations compel the largest confined animal producers to meet nutrient application standards when applying manure to the land. The additional costs for managing manure have implications for feedgrain producers and consumers as well. This report's farm-level analysis examines onfarm technical choice and producer costs across major U.S. production areas. A regional analysis focuses on off-farm competition for land to spread surplus manure, using the Chesapeake Bay region as a case study. Finally, a sectorwide analysis addresses potential long-term structural adjustments at the national level and ultimate costs to consumers and producers. ERSAER824 99 pp 6/20/2003 1:01:00 PM 29.50 Amber Waves, February 2003 Amber Waves is a new magazine that presents a window into the broad scope of ERS' research and analysis. The magazine covers the economics of agriculture, food and nutrition, the food industry, trade, rural America, and farm-related environmental topics. Available on the Internet and in print, it will appear five times a year (in February, April, June, September, and November). The Internet edition or ""e-zine"" will change as new material is added between scheduled issues. 2/20/2003 12:31:00 PM 49.95/year Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators, 2003 This report identifies trends in land, water, and biological resources and commercial input use, reports on the condition of natural resources used in the agricultural sector, and describes and assesses public policies that affect conservation and environmental quality in agriculture. Combining data and information, this report examines the complex connections among farming practices, conservation, and the environment, which are increasingly important components in U.S. agriculture and farm policy. The report also examines the economic factors that affect resource use and estimates costs and benefits to farmers, consumers, and the government of meeting conservation and environmental goals. The report takes stock of how natural resources (land, water and biological resources) and commercial inputs (nutrients, pesticides, seed and machinery) are used in the agricultural sector; shows how they contribute to environmental quality; and links use and quality to technological change, production practices, and farm programs. The report is available only in electronic format. Back to AREI home. ERSAH722 2/14/2003 9:00:00 AM Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators: Overview of Conservation Programs and Expenditures A range of policy tools or instruments exist to encourage or compel adoption of conservation and environmental practices. Federal government programs for natural resources and the environment based on these policy tools have evolved and expanded over the years. USDA has historically focused on some of these instruments in conservation programs intended to benefit natural resources and the environment affected by agriculture, and ignored others. Older programs discontinued in the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 phased down as new programs were implemented, while other programs extended by the Act continued. In 1998, USDA's conservation program expenditures represented a quarter of total Federal conservation and environmental spending. Over half of USDA's conservation expenditures were for rental or easement payments on lands in conserving uses, while expenditures for technical assistance and cost-sharing were a third of the total. AH722 2/14/2003 9:00:00 AM Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators: Compliance Provisions for Soil and Wetland Conservation Compliance provisions, first introduced in the 1985 Food Security Act, require certain resource conservation activities in return for benefits from selected Federal agricultural programs. Producers can lose Federal farm program benefits if they produce crops on highly erodible land without applying an approved conservation system or if they convert wetlands for agricultural production. In 1997, approved conservation systems were in effect for more than 95 percent of highly erodible land subject to conservation compliance, reducing erosion by two-thirds on such lands. More than 50 percent of all conservation systems involve conservation cropping sequences, conservation tillage, crop residue use, or a combination of these practices. Given reasonable assumptions about future commodity prices and production costs, compliance mechanisms may also be keeping 6-10 million acres of wetlands and highly erodible land out of crop production. AH722 2/14/2003 9:00:00 AM Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators: Water Quality Programs Federal and State governments both have developed several approaches for protecting water quality. These approaches use a variety of incentive mechanisms for reducing pollution discharges. Pollution from factories and other point sources is controlled through regulations and penalties. In contrast, programs for reducing pollution from agriculture and other nonpoint sources rely most heavily on voluntary approaches providing education, technical, and cost-sharing assistance. AH722 2/14/2003 9:00:00 AM Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators: Wetlands Programs Wetlands are important to the Nation's environment. Wetlands can store floodwater, trap nutrients and sediment, help recharge ground water, provide habitat for fish and wildlife, and buffer shorelines from wave damage. Wetlands also provide outdoor recreation, produce timber, provide grazing for livestock, and support educational and scientific activities. Despite these public values, conserving land as wetland forecloses more intensive economic uses for landowners. The current 124 million acres of wetlands in the continental United States is 55 percent of the original extent, but the rate of wetland loss has greatly diminished. A variety of policy instruments have been used in wetland programs to make progress toward the national goal of eventual net gains in wetlands. AH722 2/14/2003 9:00:00 AM Farmland Protection: The Role of Public Preferences for Rural Amenities Investigates the relative importance of preserving different amenities conserved by farmland protection programs. Examines farmland protection program enabling legislation in the 48 contiguous States, and implementation of these programs in five Northeastern States. ERSAER815 74 pp 11/4/2002 8:00:00 AM 27.00 [Archived] Agricultural Outlook April 2002 AO is the main source of USDA's farm and food price forecasts. AO emphasizes the short-term outlook for all major areas of the agricultural economy. It also presents long-term analyses of such issues as U.S. agricultural policy, trade forecasts and export-market development, food safety, the environment, and farm financial institutions. Each issue includes 30 pages of data on individual commodities, the general economy, U.S. farm trade, farm income, production expenses, input use, prices received and paid by farmers, per capita food consumption, and related issues. AO is published 10 times per year by the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Materials may be reprinted without permission. Contents have been approved by the World Agricultural Outlook Board. Release of summary for the May 2002 issue: April 18, 2002. Release of complete text-only version: April 19. ERSAO290 4/1/2002 Least-cost Management of Nonpoint Source Pollution: Source Reduction Versus Interception Strategies for Controlling Nitrogen Loss in the Mississippi Basin An ERS Elsewhere file of a journal article published in Ecological Economics. eejs0207 2/2/2002 [Archived] Agricultural Outlook November 2001 AO is the main source of USDA's farm and food price forecasts. AO emphasizes the short-term outlook for all major areas of the agricultural economy. It also presents long-term analyses of such issues as U.S. agricultural policy, trade forecasts and export-market development, food safety, the environment, and farm financial institutions. Each issue includes 25 pages of data on individual commodities, the general economy, U.S. farm trade, farm income, production expenses, input use, prices received and paid by farmers, per capita food consumption, and related issues. AO is published 10 times per year by the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Materials may be reprinted without permission. Contents have been approved by the World Agricultural Outlook Board. Release of summary for the December 2001 issue: November 20, 2001. Release of complete text-only version: November 21. ERSAO286 11/5/2001 [Archived] Agricultural Outlook September 2001 AO is the main source of USDA's farm and food price forecasts. AO emphasizes the short-term outlook for all major areas of the agricultural economy. It also presents long-term analyses of such issues as U.S. agricultural policy, trade forecasts and export-market development, food safety, the environment, and farm financial institutions. ERSAGO284 9/6/2001 12:00:00 PM Confined Animal Production and Manure Nutrients Census of agriculture data were used to estimate manure nutrient production and the capacity of cropland and pastureland to assimilate nutrients. Most farms (78 percent for nitrogen and 69 percent for phosphorus) have adequate land on which it is physically feasible to apply the manure produced onfarm at agronomic rates. (The costs of applying manure at these rates have not been assessed). Even so, manure that is produced on operations that cannot fully apply it to their own land at agronomic rates accounts for 60 percent of the Nation’s manure nitrogen and 70 percent of the manure phosphorus. In these cases, most counties with farms that produce ""excess"" nutrients have adequate crop acres not associated with animal operations, but within the county, on which it is feasible to spread the manure at agronomic rates. However, barriers to moving manure to other farms need to be studied. About 20 percent of the Nation’s onfarm excess manure nitrogen is produced in counties that have insufficient cropland for its application at agronomic rates (23 percent for phosphorus). For areas without adequate land, alternatives to local land application--such as energy production--will need to be developed. ERSAIB771 40 pp 7/20/2001 3:00:00 PM 25.50 [Archived] Agricultural Outlook May 2001 AO is the main source of USDA's farm and food price forecasts. AO emphasizes the short-term outlook for all major areas of the agricultural economy. It also presents long-term analyses of such issues as U.S. agricultural policy, trade forecasts and export-market development, food safety, the environment, and farm financial institutions. ERSAO281 4/18/2001 Adoption of Agricultural Production Practices: Lessons Learned from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Area Studies Project The U.S. Department of Agriculture Area Studies Project was designed to characterize the extent of adoption of nutrient, pest, soil, and water management practices and to assess the factors that affect adoption for a wide range of management strategies across different natural resource regions. The project entailed the administration of a detailed field-level survey to farmers in 12 watersheds in the Nation to gather data on agricultural practices, input use, and natural resource characteristics associated with farming activities. The data were analyzed by the Economic Research Service using a consistent methodological approach with the full set of data to study the constraints associated with the adoption of micronutrients, N-testing, split nitrogen applications, green manure, biological pest controls, pest-resistant varieties, crop rotations, pheromones, scouting, conservation tillage, contour farming, strip cropping, grassed waterways, and irrigation. In addition to the combined-areas analyses, selected areas were chosen for analysis to illustrate the difference in results between aggregate and area-specific models. The unique sample design for the survey was used to explore the importance of field-level natural resource data for evaluating adoption at both the aggregate and watershed levels. Further analyses of the data illustrated how the adoption of specific management practices affects chemical use and crop yields. ERSAER792 116 pp 2/14/2001 5:00:00 PM 33.00 Agriculture and Ecosystem Restoration in South Florida: Assessing Trade-offs from Water-Retention Development in the Everglades Agricultural Area The Florida Everglades is widely acclaimed as one of the world's most productive wetland ecosystems. However, decades of land and water development, some of it for agriculture, have seriously degraded native wildlife communities. Agricultural production decisions have contributed to the loss of some ecosystem functions and reduced environmental quality. Policies to restore the Everglades environment will affect the profitability of the farming sector in Florida. Considerable attention has focused on the retention of wet-season water flows in the northern watershed that is currently drained to meet urban and agricultural needs. In this study, a dynamic model of agricultural production, soil loss, and water retention in the Everglades Agricultural Area was developed to assess agricultural impacts under alternative water policy and land acquisition scenarios. eejs0108 2/1/2001 Agri-Environmental Policy at the Crossroads: Guideposts on a Changing Landscape Agri-environmental policy is at a crossroads. Over the past 20 years, a wide range of policies addressing the environmental implications of agricultural production have been implemented at the Federal level. Those policies have played an important role in reducing soil erosion, protecting and restoring wetlands, and creating wildlife habitat. However, emerging agri-environmental issues, evolution of farm income support policies, and limits imposed by trade agreements may point toward a rethinking of agri-environmental policy. This report identifies the types of policy tools available and the design features that have improved the effectiveness of current programs. It provides an indepth analysis of one policy tool that may be an important component of a future policy package—agri-environmental payments. The analysis focuses on issues and tradeoffs that policymakers would face in designing a program of agri-environmental payments. ersaer794 72 pp 1/25/2001 3:00:00 PM 27.00 [Archived] FoodReview Featuring the latest data and analyses, FoodReview explores the rapidly changing U.S. food system. Trends in food consumption, food assistance, nutrition, food product development, food safety, and food product trade are analyzed in depth for those who manage, monitor, or depend on the food system. Also includes key indicators of the food sector and updates on Federal policies and programs affecting food. ERSNFR 3 issues 10/20/2000 27.00 Production Practices for Major Crops in U.S. Agriculture, 1990-97 This report presents information on nutrient and pest management practices, crop residue management, and other general crop management practices in use on U.S. farms. The public has expressed concerns about the possible undesirable effects of contemporary agricultural practices on human health and natural resources. Partly as a response to these concerns, the U.S. Department of Agriculture began collecting information from farmers on their agricultural production practices in 1964. In 1990, through the President’s Water Quality Initiative, the USDA expanded its data collection efforts. The information presented in this report is largely for the 1990’s. Although the information cannot contribute to the science underlying the debate about the effects of agriculture on human health and environmental risk, it can provide information on the use of relevant inputs and production practices that are likely to abate, or to exacerbate, undesirable effects. ERSSB969 114 pp 9/20/2000 33.00 Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators: Pest Management Practices Insects, disease, and weeds cause significant yield and quality losses to U.S. crops. Pesticides, one option to combat pest damage, have been one of the fastest growing agricultural production inputs in the post-World War II era, and have contributed to the high productivity of U.S. agriculture. Herbicides and insecticides account for most pesticide use, but the recent increase in pounds of pesticide used is mostly for fungicides and other pesticide products applied to high-value crops. Pesticide expenses have increased from 4 to 5 percent of total production expenses during the 1990's. Many scientists recommend greater use of biological and cultural pest management methods. Major innovations have been the development of genetically engineered herbicide-tolerant varieties, which allow more effective use of herbicides, and plant pesticides, which reduce the need for chemical applications. Government programs to encourage the development and use of biological and cultural methods include areawide pest management, integrated pest management (IPM), national organic standards, and regulatory streamlining for biological pest control agents. AH722 9/6/2000 Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators, 2000 This report identifies trends in land, water, and biological resources and commercial input use, reports on the condition of natural resources used in the agricultural sector, and describes and assesses public policies that affect conservation and environmental quality in agriculture. Combining data and information, this report examines the complex connections among farming practices, conservation, and the environment, which are increasingly important components in U.S. agriculture and farm policy. The report also examines the economic factors that affect resource use and estimates costs and benefits to farmers, consumers, and the government of meeting conservation and environmental goals. The report takes stock of how natural resources (land, water and biological resources) and commercial inputs (energy, nutrients, pesticides, seed and machinery) are used in the agricultural sector; shows how they contribute to environmental quality; and links use and quality to technological change, production practices, and farm programs. 9/5/2000 [Archived] Agricultural Outlook September 2000 Contents; 77 kb In This Issue...; 43 kb Brief: Field Crops: Harvested Durum Area to Be Largest Since 1982; 59 kb Brief: Livestock: Hog Producers Plan Modest Expansion; 49 kb Brief: Technology: On the Upswing--Online buying & Selling of Crop Inputs; 42 kb Prices for Bumper Soybean Crop Hinge on China's Imports; 97 kb Weak Prices Test U.S. Sugar Policy; 103 kb Confined Animal Production Poses Manure Management Problems; 1,074 kb Environmental Regulation & Location of Hog Production; 94 kb Transportation Bottlenecks Shape U.S.-Mexico Food & Agricultural Trade; 179 kb Accessing Outlook Reports; 58 kb Statistical Indicators; 170 kb Download entire issue, 1,979 kb. ERSAGO274 9/1/2000 Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators: Water Quality Impacts of Agriculture Agricultural production releases residuals that may degrade the quality of the Nation's water resources and impose costs on water users. The extent and magnitude of this degradation is difficult to assess because of its nonpoint nature. However, agriculture is the leading source of remaining impairments in the Nation.s rivers and lakes and a major source of impairments to estuaries. AH722 8/30/2000 Economic and Conservation Tradeoffs of Regulatory Vs. Incentive-Based Water Policy in the Northwest Water quality, endangered salmon species, and Native American fishing rights have significantly heightened the competition for Columbia and Snake River Basin water resources. A solution to this regional resource conflict is expected to involve a reallocation of water resources from agriculture. This analysis examines both onfarm water conservation and agricultural economic tradeoffs across five broad regulatory and conservation-incentive water policy perspectives for the Pacific Northwest. EEJS0103 6/1/2000 [Archived] Agricultural Outlook May 2000 Contents; 65 kb In This Issue...; 29 kb Brief: Specialty Crops: U.S. Dry Bean Growers to Cut Plantings; 25 Brief: Livestock: Heifer Liquidation Continues to Support Beef Production Gains; 23 kb Brief: Farm Economy: Farm Income Down in 2000; 370 kb Brief: Farm Economy: Gush in Oil Prices to Exert Modest Impact on U.S. Economy; 32 kb U.S. Farmers to Expand Plantings of Soybeans, Corn, and Cotton in 2000; 134 kb Farm Finances Remain Healthy; 86 kb Rising Interest Rates Place Upward Pressure on Farm Lending Rates; 41 kb Curbing Nitrogen Runoff: Effects on Production and Trade; 123 kb A Fair Income for Farmers?; 441 kb FoodReview Magazine Marks Millennium; 34 kb Statistical Indicators; 164 kb Download entire issue, 1,523 kb. 5/1/2000 An Efficient Cost-Sharing Program to Reduce Nonpoint-Source Contamination: Theory and an Application to Groundwater Contamination In the 1996 Farm Act the U.S. Congress established the agricultural cost-share program known as the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP). In doing so, Congress recognized the public’s increased concern about agricultural nonpoint-source contamination, and the importance of using cost-sharing programs to reduce this contamination source by encouraging producers to adopt resource-conserving and/or environmentally-beneficial agricultural practices. This paper examines rigorously the economics of cost-sharing improved irrigation technologies to reduce agricultural nonpoint-source contamination. EEJS0102 4/1/2000 Economics of Water Quality Protection from Nonpoint Sources: Theory and Practice Water quality is a major environmental issue. Pollution from nonpoint sources is the single largest remaining source of water quality impairments in the United States. Agriculture is a major source of several nonpoint-source pollutants, including nutrients, sediment, pesticides, and salts. Agricultural nonpoint pollution reduction policies can be designed to induce producers to change their production practices in ways that improve the environmental and related economic consequences of production. The information necessary to design economically efficient pollution control policies is almost always lacking. Instead, policies can be designed to achieve specific environmental or other similarly related goals at least cost, given transaction costs and any other political, legal, or informational constraints that may exist. This report outlines the economic characteristics of five instruments that can be used to reduce agricultural nonpoint source pollution (economic incentives, standards, education, liability, and research) and discusses empirical research related to the use of these instruments. ERSAER782 120 pp 12/1/1999 33.00 [Archived] Agricultural Outlook November 1999 Contents; 296 kb In This Issue...; 386 kb Briefs: Livestock, Dairy, & Poultry: Favorable Market for Poultry to Encourage Year 2000 Expansions; 46 kb Weak Demand Dampens Outlook for U.S. Cotton; 349 kb What Makes a Small Farm Successful?; 693 kb ERS Farm Typology: Classifying a Diverse Ag Sector; 112 kb FSA Credit Programs Target Minority Farmers; 1,101 kb Role of Traditional Ag Markets: The Dry Edible Bean Industry; 370 kb Reducing Nitrogen Flow to the Gulf of Mexico: Strategies for Agriculture; 1,209 kb Implementation of Uruguay Round Tariff Reductions; 269 kb Agricultural Outlook Forum 2000; 38 kb Statistical Indicators; 220 kb Download entire issue, 5,072 kb. 11/1/1999 Pest Management in U.S. Agriculture This report describes the use of pest management practices, including integrated pest management (IPM), for major field crops and selected fruits and vegetables. The data came chiefly from the 1996 Agricultural Resource Management Study (ARMS) developed by USDA. Because different pest classes may dominate among different crops and regions, requiring different pest management techniques to control them, the extent of adoption of pest management practices varies widely. For example, insects are a major pest class in cotton production, while minor for soybeans. As insect management has a wider variety of nonchemical techniques than weed control, cotton growers are expected to be further ahead on the IPM continuum than soybean producers. ERSAH717 84 pp 10/1/1999 29.50 Policy Objectives and Economic Incentives for Controlling Agricultural Sources of Nonpoint Pollution Agriculture nonpoint source pollution is an important source of water quality impairment in the United States. Nonpoint source pollution has some important physical characteristics that have implications for setting appropriate pollution control objectives and designing incentive-based pollution control policies. Design-based incentives provide a better opportunity for controlling nonpoint pollution than do performance-based incentives. For design-based incentives to be cost-effective, the incentives must induce producers to use variable inputs at appropriate levels, to adopt appropriate management practices, and to make appropriate land use decisions at the extensive margin of production. A review of existing programs suggests that greater program coordination and improved targeting of incentives are needed for further water quality improvements. EEJS0007 10/1/1999 Economic Valuation of Environmental Benefits and the Targeting of Conservation Programs: The Case of the CRP The range of environmental problems confronting agriculture has expanded in recent years. As the largest program designed to mitigate the negative environmental effects of agriculture, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has broadened its initial focus on reductions in soil erosion to consider other landscape factors that may also be beneficial. For example, preserving habitats can help protect wildlife, thus leading to more nature-viewing opportunities. This report demonstrates how nonmarket valuation models can be used in targeting conservation programs such as the CRP. ERSAER778 64 pp 5/1/1999 12:00:00 PM 27.00 Vertical Coordination in the Pork and Broiler Industries: Implications for Pork and Chicken Products This report compares current changes in vertical coordination in the U.S. pork industry with past changes in the U.S. broiler industry. Recent changes in the structure of the U.S. pork industry reflect, in many ways, past changes in the broiler industry. Production contracts and vertical integration in the broiler industry facilitated rapid adoption of new technology, improved quality control, assured market outlets for broilers, and provided a steady flow of broilers for processing. Affordable, high-quality chicken products have contributed to continual increases in U.S. chicken consumption, which has surpassed pork and beef on a per capita basis. Incentives for contracting and vertical integration in the pork industry may yield comparable results. ERSAER777 48 pp 4/1/1999 25.50 [Archived] Agricultural Outlook October 1998 Contents, 56 kb In This Issue..., 25 kb Briefs; 27 kb Onions: The Sweet Smell of Success, 111 kb World Agriculture & Trade; 86 kb Low Prices Test 1996 Farm Act, 42 kb Rise in Food Prices in 1998 and 1999 To Be Lowest Since Early 1990's, 54 kb Status Report: Hired Farm Labor in U.S. Agriculture, 113 kb The Clean Water Action Plan: Implications for Agriculture, 73 kb Cuba's Agriculture: Collapse and Economic Reform, 66 kb Statistical Indicators; 157 kb Download entire issue, 810 kb. 10/1/1998 Wetlands and Agriculture: Private Interests and Public Benefits Society has recently increased the value it places on the services that wetlands provide, including water quality improvements, flood control, wildlife habitat, and recreation. However, owners of wetlands are often unable to profit from these services because the benefits created are freely enjoyed by many. This report examines differences between public and private incentives regarding wetlands. Federal wetland policy has shifted in recent decades--from encouraging wetland conversion to encouraging wetland protection and restoration--in an effort to balance public and private objectives. The report assesses the need for continued wetlands protection policies as the United States approaches achieving the goal of no net loss of wetlands. ERSAER765 104 pp 9/1/1998 33.00 [Archived] Agricultural Outlook January/February 1998 Contents, 78kb In This Issue..., 11kb U.S. Economy To Cool in 191998, 85kb Leafy Greens: Foundation of the Vegetable Industry, 54kb Events in Asia Lower Prospects for U.S. Farm & Rural Economy, 140kb U.S. Farm Income: Down From Record But Strong, 54kb U.S. Dairy Product Markets Restructuring, 479kb Farmers' Use of "Green" Practices Varies Widely, 93kb Tables 2-19 (Tables 1 and 20-39 available in printed copy), 144kb Download entire issue, 1,099kb. 2/1/1998 [Archived] Agricultural Outlook October 1997 Contents, 93kb In This Issue..., 25kb Commodity Briefs , 81kb Corn Output Stable, Demand Prospects Strong, 107kb U.S. Ag Exports in Fiscal '98 to Surpass '97, 51kb Farm Families to Benefit from New Tax Law, 51kb New CRP Criteria Enhance Environmental Gains, 86kb New Standards for Food Pesticide Levels, 86kb Food Prices to Maintain Slow Rise in 1998, 51kb U.S. Ag Policy--Well Below WTO Ceilings on Domestic Support, 157 kb Download entire issue, 484kb. 10/1/1997 [Archived] Agricultural Outlook September 1997 Contents, 93kb In This Issue..., 25kb Commodity Briefs , 81kb Commodity Spotlight, 107kb 1996 Farm Act Sets Stage for Acreage Shifts, 51kb Restoring the Everglades; Challenges for Agriculture, 86kb NAFTA's Impact on U.S. Agriculture: The First 3 Years, 157 kb Download entire issue, 484kb. 9/1/1997 Vertical Coordination and Consumer Welfare: The Case of the Pork Industry Advances in technology have allowed producers to grow in size and produce a large, uniform supply of high-quality hogs at lower costs. At the same time, contractual arrangements and vertical integration between hog producers and packers are replacing open market exchange. Consumers benefit from lower pork production costs and a large supply of high-quality pork products delivered on a consistent basis. ERSAER753 38 pp 8/1/1997 25.50 Change in U.S. Livestock Production, 1969-92 This report examines geographic changes in U.S. livestock production during 1969-92 from the standpoint of industry concentration and structure. Farm numbers declined 30 percent from 1969 to 1992, but hog and dairy operations were down 70 percent, farms producing eggs dropped 85 percent, and broiler operations declined 35 percent. Operations feeding cattle declined 40 percent from 1978 to 1992. Despite fewer farms, production was generally stable for most commodities with changes that reflected shifts in consumer demand for livestock products. With fewer farms producing more product, structural change in the production of most major livestock commodities was substantial. However, the magnitude and geography of change varied by commodity. ERSAER754 52 pp 7/1/1997 27.00 Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators, 1996-97 This report identifies trends in land, water, and commercial input use, reports on the condition of natural resources used in the agricultural sector, and describes and assesses public policies that affect conservation and environmental quality in agriculture. Combining data and information, this report examines the complex connections among farming practices, conservation, and the environment, which are increasingly important components in U.S. agriculture and farm policy. The report also examines the economic factors that affect resource use and, when data permit, estimates the costs and benefits (to farmers, consumers, and the government) of meeting conservation and environmental goals. The report takes stock of how natural resources (land and water) and commercial inputs (energy, nutrients, pesticides, and machinery) are used in the agricultural sector; shows how they contribute to environmental quality; and links use and quality to technological change, production practices, and farm programs. Back to AREI home. ERSAH712 356 pp 7/1/1997 62.00 Benefits of Safer Drinking Water: The Value of Nitrate Reduction Nitrates in drinking water, which may come from nitrogen fertilizers applied to crops, are a potential health risk. This report evaluates the potential benefits of reducing human exposure to nitrates in the drinking water supply. In a survey, respondents were asked a series of questions about their willingness to pay for a hypothetical water filter, which would reduce their risk of nitrate exposure. If nitrates in the respondent's drinking water were to exceed the EPA minimum safety standard, they would be willing to pay $45-$60, per household, per month, to reduce nitrates in their drinking water to the minimum safety standard. ERSAER752 24 pp 6/1/1997 23.00 Proceedings of the Third National IPM Symposium/Workshop The Third National IPM Symposium/Workshop took place in Washington, D.C., from February 27 through March 1, 1996. More than 600 participants from around the country attended the symposium/workshop reflecting a wide spectrum of professional interests including scientists (social, biological, and environmental), agricultural producers, and representatives of agribusiness and non-profit organizations. Two dominant themes provided a unifying focus. ""Putting Customers First"" focused on reaching out to the diverse customer base of USDA programs to identify IPM research and implementation needs. ""Assessing IPM Program Impacts"" addressed how to incorporate economic, environmental, and public health assessment in IPM research and extension activities. Other topics covered included analytical and data needs for pest-management programs, policies for promoting biological and reduced risk alternatives, and overcoming barriers to increased adoption of IPM practices and technologies. ERSMP1542 312 pp 5/1/1997 58.00 [Archived] Agricultural Outlook May 1997 Contents, 117 kb In This Issue..., 84 kb Contracting--A Business Option for Many Farmers, 94 kb Commodity Briefs, 161 kb U.S. Egg Production on the Sunny Side in the 1990's, 95 kb The Middle East & North Africa: A Robust Ag Market, 109 kb Toward a Broader Assessment of Integrated Pest Management, 211 kb Limited-Resource Farmers: Their Risk Management Needs, 309 kb USDA's Water Quality Program: The Lessons Learned, 277 kb 5/1/1997 Partial Interests in Land: Policy Tools for Resource Use and Conservation Property rights arise out of law, custom, and the operation of private markets, with important implications for how land and other natural resources are used and conserved. Over the past several years, debate about the nature and scope of property rights has combined with budget concerns and reauthorization of the Farm Bill, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act to focus public attention on Federal natural resource policy. This report examines the nature of land ownership and the evolving Federal role in land use and conservation, with particular attention to the voluntary acquisition and conveyance of conservation easements and other partial interests in land. ERSAER744 68 pp 11/29/1996 27.00 Provisions of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 This report provides an item-by-item description and explanation of the new Act, which will guide agricultural programs from 1996-2000. Signed into law in April, the act makes significant changes in long-standing U.S. agricultural policies. Major changes in U.S. commodity programs are included in the Act's Title I, known as the Agricultural Market Transition Act. ERSAIB729 164 pp 9/1/1996 41.00 Crop Residue Management and Tillage System Trends A summary of national and regional trends of crop residue management, including tillage systems used on winter wheat, corn, soybeans, cotton, and spring and durum wheat. Finds that conservation tillage was used on more than 99 million acres in 1994, about 35 percent of total U.S. planted crop area. Besides conserving soil, crop residue management practices also cut production costs on many farms. ERSSB930 36 pp 8/1/1996 25.50 The Conservation Reserve Program: Enrollment Statistics for Signup Periods 1-12 and Fiscal Years 1986-93 This report is fifth in an ERS series summarizing CRP participation. Finds that more than 36 million acres were enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in signup periods 1-12, held during 1986-92. This acreage includes over 23 million commodity program base acres and nearly 2.5 million tree acres. Annual CRP rental payments average about $50 per acre, and annual soil erosion reductions average 19 tons per acre. ERSSB925 112 pp 11/1/1995 33.00 [Archived] Soil Erosion and Conservation in the United States: An Overview - By order only Describes the various programs that have promoted soil conservation, providing the background information for assessment and analysis of this important facet of conservation. Soil erosion in the United States does not pose an immediate threat to the Nation's ability to produce food and fiber, but it does reduce the productivity of some soils, and it also causes offsite damage. ERSAIB718 36 pp 10/1/1995 25.50 [Archived] Economic Analysis of Selected Water Policy Options for the Pacific Northwest - By order only Agriculture in the Pacific Northwest could use significantly less water with minimal impact on agricultural economic returns. Less water use by agriculture makes more water available for municipal, industrial, and recreational uses; for improved water quality and wildlife habitat; and for Native American water rights claims. ERSAER720 68 pp 6/1/1995 27.00 [Archived] Financial and Structural Characteristics of CRP Enrollees, 1991 - By order only This report looks at CRP enrollees vs. nonenrollees; whole-farm and part-farm enrollees; regional characteristics; influence of CRP payments on income; and potential for livestock expansion. ERSAIB713 24 pp 5/1/1995 23.00 [Archived] Pesticide and Fertilizer Use and Trends in U.S. Agriculture - By order only This report looks at agricultural chemical use trends, use on major field crops, and factors influencing chemical use. Pesticides used on major crops more than doubled during 1964-82 (from 233 to 612 million pounds of active ingredients). ERSAER717 56 pp 5/1/1995 27.00 Voluntary Incentives for Reducing Agricultural Nonpoint Source Water Pollution Agricultural chemicals and sediment from cropland may reduce the quality of America's surface and ground water resources. The Clean Water Act stipulates that individual States are responsible for controlling agricultural nonpoint source pollution. Most State plans rely chiefly on education and technical assistance to promote the adoption of less polluting practices. Because profitability drives production decisions, these programs tend to be most successful when they promote inexpensive changes in existing practices. This report presents research findings on the success of incentive programs to control agricultural nonpoint source pollution. ERSAIB716 16 pp 5/1/1995 23.00 [Archived] Economics of Agricultural Management Measures in the Coastal Zone - By order only The Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), with amendments (CZARA), is the first federally mandated program requiring specific measures to deal with agricultural nonpoint sources of pollution. This report examines the economic impact of required management measures on farms in coastal areas. ERSAER698 56 pp 2/1/1995 27.00 [Archived] EU Nitrate Directive and CAP Reform: Effects on Agricultural Production, Trade, and Residual Soil Nitrogen - By order only This report presents the results of a study that compared the two policies that could reduce nitrates--The Nitrate Directive and the MacSharry proposal for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) with a hypothetical fertilizer tax. ERSFAER255 36 pp 1/1/1995 25.50 Benefits of Protecting Rural Water Quality: An Empirical Analysis Concerns about the impact of farm production on the quality of the Nation's drinking and recreational water resources have risen over the past 10 years. Because point sources of pollution were controlled first, agricultural nonpoint sources have become the Nation's largest remaining single water-quality problem. Both public and private costs of policies that address the conflict between agricultural production and water quality are relevant, but measuring the off-farm benefits and costs of changing water quality is difficult. Many of the values placed on these resources are not measured in traditional ways through market prices. This report explores the use of nonmarket valuation methods to estimate the benefits of protecting or improving rural water quality from agricultural sources of pollution. Two case studies show how these valuation methods can be used to include water-quality benefits estimates in economic analyses of specific policies to prevent or reduce water pollution. ERSAER701 36 pp 1/1/1995 25.50 Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators, 1994 This report identifies trends in land, water, and commercial input use, reports on the condition of natural resources used in the agricultural sector, and describes and assesses public policies that affect conservation and environmental quality in agriculture. Combining data and information, this report examines the complex connections among farming practices, conservation, and the environment, which are increasingly important components in U.S. agriculture and farm policy. The report examines the economic factors that affect resource use and, when data permit, estimates the costs and benefits (to farmers, consumers, and the government) of meeting conservation and environmental goals. The report takes stock of how natural resources (land and water) and commercial inputs (energy, nutrients, pesticides, and machinery) are used in the agricultural sector; shows how they contribute to environmental quality; and links use and quality to technological change, production practices, and farm programs. Back to AREI home. ERSAH705 216 pp 12/1/1994 47.00 Atrazine: Environmental Characteristics and Economics of Management Restricting or eliminating the use of atrazine in the Midwest would have important economic consequences for farmers and consumers. Atrazine is an important herbicide in the production of corn and other crops in the United States. Since atrazine is such an important herbicide, mandatory changes in application strategies are likely to generate sizable costs for producers and consumers. However, recent findings indicate that elevated amounts of atrazine are running off fields and entering surface water resources. This report presents the costs and benefits of an atrazine ban, a ban on pre-plant and pre-emergent applications, and a targeted ban to achieve a surface water standard. A complete atrazine ban is hypothesized to be the costliest strategy, while the targeted strategy is the least costly. ERSAER699 28 pp 9/1/1994 23.00 [Archived] Point-Nonpoint Source Trading for Managing Agricultural Pollutant Loadings: Prospects for Coastal Watersheds - By order only A recent focus of water quality discussions has been the idea of 'trading' cleanup efforts between pollution sources. Trading would allow a polluting firm to sponsor pollution controls elsewhere in a watershed rather than install controls of its own. Point-nonpoint trading takes place between two dissimilar firms, one, a point source, involving traceable pollution, and another, a nonpoint source, producing more diffuse pollution, such as runoff of agricultural chemicals from cropland. If nonpoint source pollution is significant and the cost of its control is lower than for additional point source controls, trading could achieve water quality goals at a lower cost. The analysis provides an initial, empirical assessment of the feasibility of trading for managing agricultural land use in coastal watersheds to protect water quality. ERSAER674 24 pp 9/1/1993 23.00 [Archived] Agricultural and Water-Quality Conflicts: Economic Dimensions of the Problem - By order only Summarizes conflicts between agricultural production and water quality, and discusses policies that stress the use of economic and technical assistance incentives to encourage adoption of pollution-reducing farm practices. ERSAIB676 20 pp 7/1/1993 23.00 [Archived] Optimal Cost-Sharing Programs to Reduce Agricultural Pollution - By order only This report examines the problem of designing economically efficient cost-sharing programs. ERSTB1820 28 pp 6/1/1993 23.00 [Archived] Cotton Production and Water Quality: Economic and Environmental Effects of Pollution Prevention - By order only Finds that environmental damage to surface and ground water posed by cotton farming may be reduced, with only limited effects on yields and prices, if restrictions on agrichemical use or production are applied to just those acres most vulnerable to water-quality problems. ERSAER664 44 pp 12/1/1992 25.50 Estimating Water Quality Benefits: Theoretical and Methodological Issues Reviews practical approaches and theoretical foundations for estimating the economic value of changes in water quality to recreation, navigation, reservoirs, municipal water treatment and use, and roadside drainage ditches. ERSTB1808 36 pp 9/1/1992 25.50 [Archived] A Direct Approach for Estimating Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Land Demands at the Regional Level - By order only Finds that estimates of fertilizer and land demands in the Corn Belt reveal profit-maximizing input elasticities of demand. ERSTB1786 24 pp 3/1/1991 23.00 [Archived] Cotton Production and Water Quality: An Initial Assessment. - By order only ERSAGES9105 28 pp 2/1/1991 23.00 [Archived] Chemigation: A Technology for the Future? - By order only Defines and describes chemigation, the use of an irrigation system to apply chemicals to soils and plants. Also discusses benefits as well as management and resource considerations. ERSAIB608 16 pp 7/1/1990 23.00 [Archived] Water Allocation Tradeoffs: Irrigation and Recreation - By order only Develops a procedure for estimating the marginal value of water used for fishing that includes the effects of upstream diversions on all points downstream. The results substantiate the role of water for recreational fishing and highlight the implications of a national perspective in water allocation decisions. ERSAER634 28 pp 6/1/1990 23.00 [Archived] The Conservation Reserve Program: An Economic Assessment - By order only The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) will boost net farm income and improve environmental quality over the life of the program (1986-99). These gains will come at the cost of somewhat higher food prices and Government administrative expenses, and potential downturns in farm input industries and other local economic activity tied to farming where enrollment is heavy. The authors estimated the net economic benefits of the program to range between $3.4 billion and $11.0 billion in present value, based on the effects covered in this report. ERSAER626 40 pp 2/1/1990 25.50 [Archived] Natural Resources and Users Benefit from the Conservation Reserve Program - By order only The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) may generate $6-$14 billion (present value) in benefits to natural resources if 45 million acres of highly erodible or environmentally sensitive cropland are removed from agricultural production by 1990. Protecting the soil by retiring and planting permanent grasses and trees on such land for 10 years will improve soil productivity, water quality, air quality, wildlife habitat, and groundwater supply. But the magnitude and distribution of benefits can be altered by changing the emphasis of the program. The report estimates how retiring cropland benefits natural resources under three scenarios of CRP enrollment. ERSAER627 56 pp 1/1/1990 27.00 [Archived] Implementing the Conservation Reserve Program: Analysis of Environmental Options - By order only Benefits would be mixed if the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) were expanded to include irrigated land, highly erodible land, and cropped wetlands, which contribute to envronmental problems. This report examines the following options for implementing environmental provisions of the CRP: irrigated land; erodible land in watersheds with pollution problems; and cropped wetlands. ERSAER618 36 pp 10/1/1989 25.50 [Archived] Economics of Controlling Sediment from Irrigation: An Idaho Example. - By order only ERSAGES8933 32 pp 9/1/1989 25.50 [Archived] Water Quality Benefits from the Conservation Reserve Program - By order only The Conservation Reserve Program, a land retirement program designed to remove from production 40 to 45 million acres of highly erodible cropland, may generate an estimated $3.5 to $4 billion in water quality benefits. Benefits were estimated with a set of procedures that approximated the physical, chemical, and economic links between soil erosion and water use. ERSAER606 38 pp 2/1/1989 25.50 [Archived] Investments in Soil Conservation and Land Improvements: Factors Explaining Farmers' Decisions - By order only Expected income and real interest rates are among economic factors that influence farmers' decisions to invest in land improvements, including soil conservation, drainage, and land clearing. This study is the first to use national data to examine the role of economic and related factors in explaining farmers' investments in conservation and other land improvement projects. ERSAER601 44 pp 1/1/1989 25.50 [Archived] Productivity and Erodibility of U.S. Cropland - By order only Soil erosion policy to remove highly erodible land from production to reduce soil erosion may be dealing with some of the most productive and valuable U.S. cropland. If so, greater incentives for farmers to retire that land may be needed. The land capability classification system and USDA's prime farmland definition, used to measure the suitability of land for agricultural uses, do not provide enough information for decisions on whether highly erodible soils are less or more productive than less erodible soils. As a result, some highly erodible lands that are also highly productive may have higher opportunity costs than commonly thought and thus may need greater incentives for retirement. Opportunity costs measure the earning power of an input, soil in this case, in its best alternative use. ERSAER604 32 pp 1/1/1989 25.50 [Archived] The Conservation Reserve Program and Its Effect on Land Values - By order only Some farmers enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in 1986 and 1987 may have earned more under the CRP than they would have if they had not enrolled and had farmed or rented out their land instead. ERSAIB554 8 pp 1/1/1989 12.00 [Archived] Public Water Supply in Rural Communities: Results from the National Rural Community Facilities Assessment Study. - By order only ERSAGES894 50 pp 1/1/1989 25.50 [Archived] Restricted Use Pesticides. - By order only Chemical application rates and acres treated for restricted use pesticides for selected field and vegetable crops in major producing States. This report is a summary of the restricted use pesticide ingredients reported in the previous two issues of Agricultural Chemical Usage; for field crops and vegetables and, on an alternating basis, either fruits or vegetables. NASSZUP99 15.00