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Measuring Economic And Environmental Impacts Of Federal Farm Policy Scenarios Using Geographic Information Systems: A Watershed Case Study

Author

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  • Painter, Kathleen
  • Walker, David

Abstract

The conservation compliance provisions of the 1985 Farm Bill have decreased average erosion by more than 50% in the Tom Bealle watershed of Northern Idaho, as estimated from profit-maximizing mathematical programming models and erosion predictions using Geographic Information System (GIS) data. Requiring reduced tillage in order to participate in the farm · program resulted in an average of 6. 6 tons of erosion per acre for cultivated areas in the watershed, compared to 13.5 tons without conservation compliance provisions. Interestingly, using the original mandate of requiring that farmers not exceed 'T' increased erosion to an average of 8.9 tons per acre for the watershed, as only 38% of profit-maximizing farmers would choose to participate in the farm program. Even if the maximum erosion level permitted were raised to 1.5 times 'T,' average erosion was predicted to be 8.6 tons per acre, as only 85% of farmers would participate. The use of alternative conservation systems reduced overall erosion more effectively than a strict erosion limit as farmers did not exit the farm program due to inability to reach erosion limits while maintaining profitability.

Suggested Citation

  • Painter, Kathleen & Walker, David, 1994. "Measuring Economic And Environmental Impacts Of Federal Farm Policy Scenarios Using Geographic Information Systems: A Watershed Case Study," A.E. Research Series 305116, University of Idaho, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:uidaer:305116
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.305116
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