Do Conservation Practices and Programs Benefit the Intended Resource Concern?

Vondracek, Bruce; Zimmerman, Julie K. H.; Westra, John V.

doi:10.1017/s1068280500005670

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The variability and heterogeneity of the landscape and of management systems mean that identical practices applied to different landscapes can have different environmental outcomes. For example, Westra et al (2004) found that simulated changes in agricultural practices reduced sediment loss in two geophysically distinct Minnesota watersheds by 25-31%. However, although the reduction improved fish survival in one watershed, no such changes were observed in the other.…”

Section: Existing Policy-relevant Informationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Green payments and the US Farm Bill: information and policy challenges

Batie¹

2009

Frontiers in Ecol & Environ

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w ww ww w. .f fr ro on nt ti ie er rs si in ne ec co ol lo og gy y. .o or rg g REVIEWS REVIEWS REVIEWSGreen payments and the US Farm Bill: information and policy challenges S Sa an nd dr ra a S S B Ba at ti ie e Agriculture in the United States is heavily influenced by the Farm Bill and has considerable negative impacts on ecosystem functioning. Could the Farm Bill be redesigned to fund "green" payments that would encourage producers to provide beneficial ecological services? Such a change would be a complex undertaking, involving missing or uncertain information, heterogeneous systems, and challenging political and budgetary realities. Much of the information necessary for Farm Bill redesign is available, but is not being used; however, there remain critical gaps in our understanding of how to structure science-based, producer-relevant policy. One way to fill these information gaps is to fund cooperative pilot projects, based on environmental units of interest, such as watersheds. Nevertheless, political and budgetary constraints may mean that such information is more likely to inform policy and activities outside of the Farm Bill.

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Section: Existing Policy-relevant Informationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Green payments and the US Farm Bill: information and policy challenges

Batie¹

2009

Frontiers in Ecol & Environ

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“…It pays farmers for using production systems that result in environmental benefits, such as cleaner water and more wildlife habitat. In an article published in the Agricultural and Resource Economics Review (Westra et al 2004), researchers with the Multiple Benefits of Agriculture initiative show that CSP, along with Conservation Reserve Program payments, could help produce significant environmental benefits while buoying farmer income. We have been on farms that are enrolled in the top tier of CSP, and it is impressive how they are using perennial grass systems and diverse crop rotations to produce a good income, as well as numerous ecosystem benefits for their local watersheds and communities.…”

Section: Actions To Reward Public Goods and Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Redesigning Agriculture

BOODY¹,

DeVORE²

2006

BioScience

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“…The strength of simulation models is in showing how decision makers respond in various situations and the resulting implications for economic returns and pollution runoff. Simulation models include FLIPSIM: Farm Level Income and Policy Simulation Model (Richardson and Nixon, 1981;Richardson et al, 1993;AFPC, 2005), FEM: Farm-level Economic Model (Osei et al, 2000a(Osei et al, , 2000b(Osei et al, , 2000cGassman et al, 2002), and ADAPT: Agricultural Drainage and Pesticide Transport (Westra et al, 2004).…”

Section: Economic Models Available For Tmdl Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic Models for TMDL Assessment and Implementation

Bosch¹,

Ogg²,

Osei³

et al. 2006

Transactions of the ASABE

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The TMDL assessment and implementation process is designed to achieve designated uses for water bodies, which are set by states based on criteria including perceived costs and benefits. Setting water quality goals based on designated uses and plans to achieve these goals have important implications for public welfare. Both treatment and damage costs should be considered in simultaneously determining the desired water quality goal and allocating pollution reductions among sources to achieve that goal. Assessing and implementing TMDL plans are complicated by uncertainties about pollution damages and stakeholder responses. Economic optimization or simulation models linked to water quality models allow water quality impacts and costs of TMDL standards to be assessed. Higher water quality thresholds may be reserved for watersheds with higher estimated benefits. Costs of achieving standards can be reduced by targeting reductions at pollution sources with the lowest costs of achieving reductions. Trading programs can help achieve efficient targeting of pollution reductions while distributing costs equitably. The effectiveness of economic models to assist in setting water quality goals and in TMDL program planning and implementation can be improved by using economic models to analyze costs and benefits of water quality improvements and to assist with pollution targeting and trading programs to minimize costs of reducing pollution. Multi-media impacts of pollution should be included within economic and environmental water quality models. Given uncertainties about benefits and costs of achieving TMDL standards, policymakers and program managers need to collect more data on stakeholder responses to TMDL programs as well as better monitoring data on pollutant levels and functioning of aquatic systems.

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Do Conservation Practices and Programs Benefit the Intended Resource Concern?

Cited by 7 publications

References 30 publications

Green payments and the US Farm Bill: information and policy challenges

Green payments and the US Farm Bill: information and policy challenges

Redesigning Agriculture

Economic Models for TMDL Assessment and Implementation

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