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Evaluation of Agri†Environmental Programs: Can We Determine If We Grew Forward in an Environmentally Friendly Way?

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  • Peter C. Boxall

Abstract

The environmental elements of the quinquennial agricultural policy frameworks are probably the largest agri†environmental programs in Canada and have been running for about 15 years. Formal evaluation of their effectiveness has either not been done, or is not available for researchers and policy analysts to compare with other agri†environmental policy efforts. This address introduces this problem and attempts to examine evaluative approaches using Alberta's Growing Forward 1 and 2 environmental stewardship programs. While this attempt has uncovered significant data issues, there is evidence that program managers targeted funds to areas where water quality risks are of concern. The review also questions the requirement that producers eligible for funding must have an Environmental Farm Plan. After 15 years of having this requirement, I argue that it's time for Alberta's environmental stewardship program to relax this. Les éléments environnementaux des cadres politiques agricoles quinquennaux représentent probablement les plus vastes programmes agroenvironnementaux au Canada et opèrent depuis environ quinze ans. L'évaluation formelle de leur efficacité n'a soit pas été entreprise, ou n'est pas disponible pour les chercheurs et analystes politiques afin qu'ils les comparent à d'autres efforts en matière de politique agroenvironnementale. Cet énoncé présente ce problème et tente d'examiner les approches évaluatives utilisées par les programmes albertains de gérance environnementale Cultivons l'avenir 1 et 2. S'il est vrai que cette tentative a révélé de considérables problèmes de données, des preuves démontrent que les gestionnaires de programmes dirigeaient les fonds vers les régions où la qualité de l'eau est en jeu. L'évaluation s'interroge aussi au sujet de l'exigence selon laquelle les producteurs admissibles au financement doivent présenter un plan agroenvironnemental. Ayant été requise pendant quinze ans, je propose que le programme de gérance environnementale de l'Alberta assouplisse cette exigence.

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  • Peter C. Boxall, 2018. "Evaluation of Agri†Environmental Programs: Can We Determine If We Grew Forward in an Environmentally Friendly Way?," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 66(2), pages 171-186, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:canjag:v:66:y:2018:i:2:p:171-186
    DOI: 10.1111/cjag.12170
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    1. Vukina, Tomislav & Zheng, Xiaoyong & Marra, Michele & Levy, Armando, 2008. "Do farmers value the environment? Evidence from a conservation reserve program auction," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 26(6), pages 1323-1332, November.
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    2. Pogue, Sarah J. & Kröbel, Roland & Janzen, H. Henry & Alemu, Aklilu W. & Beauchemin, Karen A. & Little, Shannan & Iravani, Majid & de Souza, Danielle Maia & McAllister, Tim A., 2020. "A social-ecological systems approach for the assessment of ecosystem services from beef production in the Canadian prairie," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    3. Paul Smith & Carrie Bibik & Jon Lazarus & David Armitage & Cindy Bradley-Macmillan & Maxine Kingston & Andrew Graham & Ryan Plummer & Robert Summers, 2021. "Canada's Environmental Farm Plan: Evaluating Implementation, Use of Services, and the Influence of Social Factors," Sustainable Agriculture Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 9(4), pages 1-1, December.
    4. Sarah Van Wyngaarden, 2022. "Carbon Credit Systems in Alberta Agriculture," SPP Technical Papers, The School of Public Policy, University of Calgary, vol. 15(18), June.
    5. Van Wyngaarden, Sarah & Anders, Sven M., 2021. "Canadian Farmer Policy and Agency Preferences in Agri-Environmental Best Management Practice Adoption," 2021 Annual Meeting, August 1-3, Austin, Texas 313851, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

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