Document Type
Thesis - University Access Only
Award Date
2004
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department / School
Economics
First Advisor
Thomas L. Dobbs
Abstract
Conservation programs have had little success commanding the attention of policymakers. These programs have often been criticized regarding their overall effectiveness and the actual environmental benefits that are produced. The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of2002 has brought new life to conservation and agri-environmental issues with a substantial increase in funding to develop policies that are meant to address the shortcomings of past programs.
The purpose of this thesis was to evaluate the Conservation Security Program and its likely success in causing farmers to develop longer, more sustainable crop rotations. A "representative" farm was developed for a six-county study region from interviews and National Agricultural Statistics Service and 1997 Census data. The "representative" farm was evaluated using baseline ( com-soybean), alternative, and organic farming systems. The CSP was applied to the rotations and analyzed with various contract and payment assumptions. The research showed that most of the alternative and organic rotations consistently had higher returns than the baseline com-soybean rotations. However, the payment rates for the CSP might not be sufficient to cause farmers to change to longer crop rotations.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Agricultural conservation -- South Dakota.
Incentives in conservation of natural resources -- South Dakota.
Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Dakota.
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Recommended Citation
Streff, Nicholas J., "Economic Incentives for South Dakota Farmers to Participate in the Conservation Security Program" (2004). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1110.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd2/1110
Rights Statement
