Protecting Rural Amenities Through Farmland Preservation Programs

Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, 32/1 (April 2003): 129-144

16 Pages Posted: 24 Feb 2016

See all articles by Cynthia Nickerson

Cynthia Nickerson

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS)

Daniel Hellerstein

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS), Resource and Rural Economics Division

Date Written: April 22, 2003

Abstract

We investigate what farmland preservation programs reveal about the importance of protecting different rural amenities. An extensive content analysis of the enabling legislation of various farmland protection programs suggests wide variation exists in the protection of amenities. An analysis of 27 individual Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) programs’ selection criteria suggests these programs favor preserving amenities that are jointly provided by cropland and livestock operations. These PDR selection criteria also reveal unique preferences regarding the spatial patterns of preserved agricultural lands. Variation in relative weights given to protecting most parcel characteristics in PDR programs is not easily explained by factors that characterize areas experiencing farmland losses.

Keywords: farmland preservation, rural amenities

JEL Classification: Q15, Q28

Suggested Citation

Nickerson, Cynthia and Hellerstein, Daniel, Protecting Rural Amenities Through Farmland Preservation Programs (April 22, 2003). Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, 32/1 (April 2003): 129-144, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2736615

Cynthia Nickerson (Contact Author)

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS) ( email )

355 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024-3221
United States
202-694-5626 (Phone)

Daniel Hellerstein

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS), Resource and Rural Economics Division ( email )

Washington, DC 20024-3221
United States

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