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Sodbusting: Land Use Change and Farm Programs

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  • Heimlich, Ralph E.

Abstract

Farmers converted 11.1 million acres of land to cropland between 1979 and 1981, but only 1.9 million acres were both highly erodible and planted to program crops. Although concern about sodbusting focuses on the Great Plains, such conversion has been occurring in all regions. Analysis of costs and returns indicates that farm programs do provide an incentive to convert highly erodible land to cropland. Participation in price support and subsidized loan programs would have made net returns on 384,000 acres of highly erodible land profitable in 1982. Proposed legislation would remove such incentives, but the proposed system for identifying highly erodible land does not precisely identify new cropland with high potential for excessive erosion.

Suggested Citation

  • Heimlich, Ralph E., 1985. "Sodbusting: Land Use Change and Farm Programs," Agricultural Economic Reports 307993, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:uerser:307993
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.307993
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lewis, James A., 1980. "Landownership in the United States, 1978," Agricultural Information Bulletins 309242, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    2. Sara Ebenreck, 1984. "Stopping the raid on soil: Ethical reflections on "sodbusting" legislation," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 1(3), pages 3-9, June.
    3. Robert N. Shulstad & Ralph D. May, 1980. "Conversion of Noncropland to Cropland: The Prospects, Alternatives, and Implications," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 62(5), pages 1077-1083.
    4. Reichelderfer, Katherine H., 1985. "Do USDA Farm Program Participants Contribute to Soil Erosion?," Agricultural Economic Reports 307990, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    5. Osteen, Craig, 1985. "Impacts Of Farm Policies On Soil Erosion: A Problem Definition Paper," Staff Reports 277652, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    6. Shulstad, Robert N. & May, Ralph D., 1980. "Conversion of Noncropland to Cropland:The Prospects Alternatives, and Implications," 1980 Annual Meeting, July 27-30, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois 278417, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    7. Bills, Nelson L. & Heimlich, Ralph E., 1984. "Assessing Erosion on U.S. Cropland: Land Management and Physical Features," Agricultural Economic Reports 307957, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nielsen, Elizabeth G. & Miranowski, John A. & Morehart, Mitchell J, 1989. "Investments in Soil Conservation and Land Improvements: Factors Explaining Farmers' Decisions," Agricultural Economic Reports 308064, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    2. Heimlich, Ralph E. & Langner, Linda L., 1986. "Swampbusting: Wetland Conversion and Farm Programs," Agricultural Economic Reports 308005, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    3. Ogg, Clayton W., 1985. "Acreage Reduction Options In The 1985 Farm Bill Proposals," 1985 Annual Meeting, August 4-7, Ames, Iowa 278594, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).

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