Policy Considerations for Increasing Compatibilities between Agriculture and Wildlife

Abstract

Implicit in efforts to increase the quantity and quality of wildlife habitat associated with U.S. agricultural lands is the notion that society would benefit if farmers and ranchers allocated more land and water resources to wild species. Farmers and ranchers, however, generally have a limited ability to capture the economic value of wildlife goods and services produced on agricultural lands. As a result, wildlife impacts are only partially reflected in most farm land-use decisions. Where market conditions and government farm programs do not provide for the socially optimal mix of wildlife goods and services, policy actions aimed at protecting or enhancing wildlife on agricultural lands may be justified. To be successful, such policies must provide for the basic biological requirements of desired species and habitats and account for the economic considerations that affect producers? resource-use decisions.