Economic Analysis of USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Erosion Control Programs: A New Perspective

摘要

Estimates the economic rate of return to erosion control expenditures on cropland as reflected in soil productivity and offsite damage reduction benefits. It goes beyond earlier evaluations, which focused on the reduction in the physical tons of erosion and on the least cost ways of achieving erosion reduction goals. In doing so, the study has confronted but not eliminated previous technical barriers to accurate economic measurement of program efficiency. Consequently, the results are only indicative of the general magnitude of costs and benefits associated with cropland erosion control. These provisional findings nevertheless suggest possible ways to increase the payoff from the USDA's erosion control programs.