Exploring Methods of Selecting Cropland for Conservation

Agricultural Outlook AGO-254, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, September pp. 21-1, 1998

4 Pages Posted: 25 Feb 2016

See all articles by Peter Feather

Peter Feather

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

LeRoy Hansen

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

Date Written: September 1, 1998

Abstract

Environmental targeting directs program resources to lands where the greatest environmental benefit will be generated for a given expenditure. The CRP offers annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to farmers in exchange for the establishment of longterm resource-conserving covers. Withthe environmental benefits index, the ranking of CRP offers can be based on a broader set of environmental criteria. Using economic valuation techniques, and data on recreation, ERS researchers have demonstrated that it is possible to derive estimates of disaggregated recreational use values to measure and reflect social preference. Results on use values associated with three recreational activities (wildlife viewing, water based recreation, and pheasant hunting).

Keywords: conservation reserve program, valuation, wildlife viewing, pheasant hunting, water based recreation, travel cost analysis

JEL Classification: Q26, Q28

Suggested Citation

Feather, Peter and Hellerstein, Daniel and Hansen, LeRoy, Exploring Methods of Selecting Cropland for Conservation (September 1, 1998). Agricultural Outlook AGO-254, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, September pp. 21-1, 1998, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2737159

Peter Feather (Contact Author)

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

1800 M Street, NW
Room 4077
Washington, DC 20036-5831
United States
202-694-5608 (Phone)
202-694-5756 (Fax)

Daniel Hellerstein

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

Washington, DC 20024-3221
United States

LeRoy Hansen

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

1214 N. Dinwiddie St.
Arlington, VA 22205-2533
United States
703 527 1926 (Phone)

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