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Reducing soil erosion is one of the major goals of
U.S. agri-environmental policy, and Conservation Compliance is a primary
tool for achieving this aim. Between 1982 and 1997, soil erosion on
U.S. cropland dropped by 38 percent, and about 25 percent of that
can be attributed to producers’ response to Conservation Compliance
incentives. But soil erosion was also reduced on land not subject
to Compliance, indicating the influence of other factors. |
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Environmental Compliance in U.S.
Agricultural Policy: Past Performance and Future Potential is
the latest ERS research report on conservation policy in agriculture.
Compliance provisions require agricultural producers to implement
soil conservation systems on highly erodible cropland and refrain
from draining wetlands in order to remain eligible for benefits
from selected Federal agricultural programs, including price support
loans and income support payments.
This new report examines 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.
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| Other ERS Publications on Compliance |
Have Conservation
Compliance Incentives Reduced Soil Erosion? reviews research on
the effect of Conservation Compliance in reducing soil erosion on U.S.
cropland.
Compliance Mechanisms
for Soil and Wetland Conservation provides an overview of the economics
of compliance mechanisms, the use of compliance in U.S. agri-environmental
policy, and data on compliance violations.
ERS has also produced a number of research reports and articles on agri-environmental
problems and on policy options for addressing environmental problems associated
with agricultural production:
Agri-Environmental Policy at the Crossroads:
Guideposts on a Changing Landscape identifies the design features
of agri-environmental programs that have improved the effectiveness
of current programs, and focuses on issues and tradeoffs that policymakers
would face in designing one particular policy option: a program of agri-environmental
payments.
Agricultural Resource and Environmental
Indicators covers a broad range of subjects in resource and environmental
economics.
Information on changes
in conservation programs arising with the 2002 Farm Act
Information on USDA conservation
programs, Natural Resources Conservation Service , USDA
Information on CRP
and related programs, Farm Services Agency, USDA
| Briefing Rooms on Related Topics |
Conservation and Environmental
Policy
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