Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T17:39:55.154Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Do Conservation Practices and Programs Benefit the Intended Resource Concern?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2016

John V. Westra
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Louisiana State University AgCenter, Baton Rouge
Julie K. H. Zimmerman
Affiliation:
Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
Bruce Vondracek
Affiliation:
U.S. Geological Survey Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Minnesota, St. Paul

Abstract

Many conservation programs under the 2002 Farm Act address resource concerns such as water quality and aquatic communities in streams. Analyzing two such programs, simulated changes in agricultural practices decreased field-edge sediment losses by 25–31% in two geophysically distinct Minnesota watersheds. However, while in-stream sediment concentrations and lethal fisheries events decreased significantly in one watershed, there was no discernable improvement for the fisheries in the other, despite potentially spending over $100,000 annually in conservation payments. These results highlight the importance of performance-based conservation payments targeted to genuine resource concerns in watersheds and the value of integrated bioeconomic modeling of conservation programs.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
Copyright © 2004 Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Berkman, H. E., and Rabeni, C. F. (1987). “Effect of Siltation on Stream Fish Communities.” Environmental Biology of Fishes 18, 285294.Google Scholar
Braden, J. B., Johnson, G. V., Bouzaher, A., and Miltz, D. (1989). “Optimal Spatial Management of Agricultural Pollution.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 71(2), 404413.Google Scholar
Braden, J. B., Larson, R. S., and Herricks, E. E. (1991). “Impact Targets versus Discharge Standards in Agricultural Pollution Management.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 73(2), 388397.Google Scholar
Chung, S. O., Ward, A. D., and Schalk, C. W. (1992). “Evaluation of the Hydrologic Component of the ADAPT Water Table Management Model.” Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers 35, 571579.Google Scholar
Conservation Tillage Information Center. (1999, July). “Conservation Tillage Survey Data.” Online. Available at http://www.ctic.purdue.edu/Core4/CT/CT.html.Google Scholar
Conservation Tillage Information Center. (2003, November). “Conservation Tillage Trends: 1990-2002.” Online. Available at http://www.ctic.purdue.edu/Core4/CT/CTSurvey/NationalData.html.Google Scholar
Crowder, B., and Young, C. (1987). “Soil Conservation Practices and Water Quality: Is Erosion Control the Answer?Water Resources Bulletin 23(5), 897902.Google Scholar
Davis, D. M., Gowda, P. H., Mulla, D. J., and Randall, G. W. (2000). “Modeling Nitrate Nitrogen Leaching in Response to Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate and Tile Drain Depth or Spacing for Southern Minnesota, USA.” Journal of Environmental Quality 29, 15681581.Google Scholar
Desmond, E., and Ward, A. D. (1996). ADAPT: Agricultural Drainage and Pesticide Transport User's Manual, Version 4.1. Department of Agricultural Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus.Google Scholar
Farm Business Management. (2001a). Farm Business Management, 2000 Annual Report, Southeastern Minnesota. Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. Online. Available at http://www.mgt.org/fbm/reports/2000/se/se.htm. [Accessed March 2001.]Google Scholar
Farm Business Management. (2001b). Farm Business Management, 2000 Annual Report, West Central Minnesota. Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. Online. Available at http://www.mgt.org/fbm/reports/2000/wc/wc.htm. [Accessed March 2001.]Google Scholar
Gowda, P. H., Ward, A. D., White, D. A., Baker, D. B., and Lyon, J. G. (1999a). “Using Field Scale Models to Predict Peak Flows on Agricultural Watersheds.Journal of the American Water Resources Association 35, 12231232.Google Scholar
Gowda, P. H., Ward, A. D., White, D. A., Lyon, J. G., and Desmond, E. (1999b). “The Sensitivity of ADAPT Model Predictions of Stream flows to Parameters Used to Define Hydrologic Response Units.Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers 42, 381389.Google Scholar
Harding, J. S., Benfield, E. F., Bolstad, P. V., Helfinan, G. S., and Jones, E. B. D. III. (1998). “Stream Biodiversity: The Ghost of Land Use Past.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 95, 1484314847.Google ScholarPubMed
Heimlich, R., and Ogg, C. (1982). “Evaluation of Soil Erosion and Pesticide-Exposure Control Strategies.” Journal of Environmental Economic Management 9(3), 279288.Google Scholar
Johansson, R. C. (2002). “Watershed Nutrient Trading Under Asymmetric Information.” Agricultural and Resource Economics Review 31(2), 221232.Google Scholar
Lazarus, W. F. (2001). “Minnesota Farm Machinery Economic Cost Estimates for 2001.” Pub. No. FO-6696, Minnesota Extension Service, University of Minnesota, St. Paul.Google Scholar
Leonard, R. A., Knisel, W. G., and Still, D. A. (1987). “GLEAMS: Groundwater Loading Effects of Agricultural Management Systems.” Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers 40, 945952.Google Scholar
Magner, J. (2001, March). Hydrologist, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, St. Paul, MN. Personal communication regarding stream bank erosion estimates.Google Scholar
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. (1998). “Chippewa River Population Assessment.” MNDNR Section of Fisheries, Spicer, MN (11 pp.).Google Scholar
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. (1999). “Stream Population Assessment for Wells Creek, Goodhue County.” MNDNR Section of Fisheries, Lake City, MN (5 pp.).Google Scholar
Mulla, D. J. (2001, March). Professor, Department of Water, Soil, and Climate, University of Minnesota, St. Paul. Personal communication regarding stream bank erosion estimates.Google Scholar
Newcombe, C. P., and Jensen, J. O. (1996). “Channel Suspended Sediment and Fisheries: A Synthesis for Quantitative Assessment of Risk and Impact.” North American Journal of Fisheries Management 16, 693727.Google Scholar
Olson, K. D., and Senjem, N. (1996). “Economic Comparison of Incremental Changes in Tillage Systems in the Minnesota River Basin.” Pub. No. FO-6675-C, Minnesota Extension Service, University of Minnesota, St. Paul.Google Scholar
Olson, K. D., Westman, L. L., and Nordquist, D. W. (2001). “Southeastern Minnesota Farm Business Management Association 2000 Annual Report.” Staff Pap. No. P01-3, Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul.Google Scholar
Osteen, C., and Seitz, W. D. (1978). “Regional Economic Impacts of Policies to Control Erosion and Sedimentation in Illinois and Other Corn Belt States.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 60(3), 510517.Google Scholar
Park, W., and Shabman, L. (1982). “Distributional Constraints on Acceptance of Nonpoint Pollution Controls.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 64(3), 455462.Google Scholar
Payne, G. (2001, March). Hydrologist, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, St. Paul, MN. Personal communication regarding daily stream gauge data.Google Scholar
Randall, G. W., Lueschen, W. E., Evans, S. D., and Moncrief, J. F. (1996). “Tillage Best Management Practices for Corn-Soybean Rotations in the Minnesota River Basin.” Pub. No. FO-6676-C, Minnesota Extension Service, University of Minnesota, St. Paul.Google Scholar
Ribaudo, M. O., Osborn, C. T., and Konyar, K. (1994). “Land Retirement as a Tool for Reducing Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution.” Land Economics 70(1), 7787.Google Scholar
Schleiger, S. L. (2000). “Use of an Index of Biotic Integrity to Detect Effects of Land Use on Stream Fish Communities in West-Central Georgia.” Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 129, 11181133.Google Scholar
Schlosser, I. J. (1991). “Stream Fish Ecology: A Landscape Perspective.” Bioscience 41, 704712.Google Scholar
Sharpley, A. N., Daniels, T., Sims, T., Lemunyon, J., Stevens, R., and Parry, R. (1999). “Agricultural Phosphorus and Eutrophication.” ARS Pub. No. 149, USD A/Agricultural Research Service, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Spurlock, S., and Clifton, I. (1982). “Efficiency and Equity Aspects of Nonpoint Source Pollution Controls.” Southern Journal of Agricultural Economics 14(2), 123129.Google Scholar
Taylor, C. R., and Frohberg, K. K. (1977). “The Welfare Effects of Erosion Controls, Banning Pesticides, and Limiting Fertilizer Application in the Corn Belt.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 59(1), 2536.Google Scholar
U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service. (1999a). 1997 Census of Agriculture, Volume 1: Geographic Area Series, Part 23, Minnesota State and County Data. USDA/NASS, Washington, DC. Online. Available at http://www.nass.usda.gov/census/census97/. [Accessed July 1999.]Google Scholar
U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service. (1999b). “Crop Values Final Estimates, 1992-97.” Statistical Bulletin No. 963, USDA/NASS, Washington, DC. Online. Available at http://www.manlib.comell.edu/usda/reports/general/sb/b9631099.pdf. [Accessed March 2000.]Google Scholar
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. (1998). “Watershed Plan—Environmental Assessment, Whitewater River Watershed.” USDA/NRCS, St. Paul, MN. Google Scholar
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2000). The Quality of Our Nation's Waters. Pub. No. EPA841-S-00-001, EPA Office of Water, Washington, DC. Online. Available at http://www.epa.gov/305b/98report/98brochure.pdf. [Accessed November 2003.]Google Scholar
Vatn, A., Bakken, L. R., Lundeby, H., Romstad, E., Rorstad, P. K., Vold, A., and Botterweg, P. (1997). “Regulating Nonpoint-Source Pollution from Agriculture: An Integrated Modeling Analysis.” European Review of Agricultural Economics 24(2), 207229.Google Scholar
Vondracek, B., Zimmerman, J. K. H., and Westra, J. V. (2003). “Setting an Effective TMDL: Sediment Loading and Effects of Suspended Sediment on Fish.” Journal of the American Water Resources Association 39(5), 10051015.Google Scholar
Wade, J. C., and Heady, E. O. (1977). “Controlling Nonpoint Sediment Sources with Cropland Management: A National Economic Assessment.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 59(1), 1324.Google Scholar
Welle, P. G. (2001, June). “Multiple Benefits of Agriculture: A Survey of Public Values in Minnesota.” Draft Report, Land Stewardship Project, Minneapolis, MN. Online. Available at http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/mba/contingent_valuation_report%20.pdf. [Accessed November 2003.]Google Scholar
Westra, J. V., Easter, K. W., and Olson, K. D. (2002). “Targeting Nonpoint Source Pollution Control: Phosphorus in the Minnesota River Watershed.” Journal of the American Water Resources Association 38(2), 493505.Google Scholar
Wood, P. J., and Armitage, P. D. (1997). “Biological Effects of Fine Sediment in the Lotic Environment.” Environmental Management 21, 203217.Google ScholarPubMed
Wu, J. (2003). “Using Science to Improve the Economic Efficiency of Conservation Practices.” Linkages Between Agricultural and Conservation Policies Workshop Proceedings. NERCD Regional Rural Development Paper No. 21, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.Google Scholar
Wu, J., Adams, R. M., Kling, C. L., and Tanaka, K. (2004). “From Micro-Level Decisions to Landscape Changes: An Assessment of Agricultural Conservation Policies.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 86(1), 2641.Google Scholar
Zimmerman, J. K. H., Vondracek, B., and Westra, J. (2003). “Agricultural Land Use Effects on Sediment Loading and Fish Assemblages in Two Minnesota (USA) Watersheds.” Environmental Management 32, 93105.Google Scholar