ERS Research on Conservation Policy

U.S. farmers and ranchers produce a wide variety of essential commodities for food, fuel, and fiber, but in the process, they often have a negative impact on the environment, contributing to water quality and quantity concerns, degradation of wildlife habitat, and worsening air quality (see the ERS briefing room, Environmental Interactions with Agricultural Production). In an attempt to reduce the severity of these unintended consequences, USDA and other Federal, State, and local government agencies have instituted a wide range of policies, programs, and regulations affecting agricultural producers.

USDA operates several voluntary conservation programs designed to remove environmentally sensitive farmland from production, improve farming practices on working agricultural lands, and preserve farmland from commercial development (see the Conservation Policy briefing room). It also uses its commodity support programs to encourage environmentally-friendly farming practices and actively supports the creation of markets to reimburse farmers for their conservation efforts. How these programs and policies work together to improve the environment at minimal cost to society is an important research and public policy question.

ERS Research on Conservation Policy

Challenges Facing USDA’s Conservation Program (Amber Waves, June 2010) Improved targeting of benefits, encouragement of better conservation practices, and heightened competition among bidders could hold promise for increasing the environmental benefits and lowering the cost of the Conservation Reserve Program. The Farm Act’s Regional Equity Provision: Impacts on Conservation Program Outcomes (June 2010) The 2002 and 2008 Farm Acts increased funding for conservation programs that help farmers implement conservation practices on working farmland. Along with seeking cost-effective environmental benefits, these programs aim at spreading conservation funding equitably across States. Participation in Conservation Programs by Targeted Farmers (December 2009) Beginning, limited-resource, and socially disadvantaged farmers make up as much as 40 percent of all U.S. farms. Some Federal conservation programs encourage participation by such farmers and the 2008 Farm Act furthered these efforts. Use of Markets to Increase Private Investments in Environmental Stewardship (September 2008) This report explores the use of market mechanisms, such as emissions trading and eco-labels, to increase private investment in environmental stewardship. Integrating Commodity and Conservation Programs: Design Options and Outcomes (October 2007) Can a single program support farm income and encourage producers to adopt environmentally sound farming practices? Attempting to roll the farm income support features of existing commodity programs and conservation payments into a single program raises questions.