Overview
Understanding links between farm economics and the use
of natural resources is critical to fostering greater
harmony between agriculture and ecosystems that support
us and other species. Research can help find ways in which
agricultural competitiveness and economic development
can coexist with the natural resource base and enhanced
environmental quality. Federal policies must constantly
evolve to promote stewardship in light of new opportunities
for productivity growth, resource-saving technologies,
and threats to biodiversity.
Related Briefing Rooms
Features
Voluntary conservation payment programs must specify
who is eligible to receive payments, how much can be received,
for what action, and the means by which applicants are
selected. Achieving program goals in a cost-effective
manner hinges on the choices policymakers and program
managers make when answering these questions. A set of
five Economic Briefs explores specific design options
these decisionmakers face:
(1) Balancing income support
and environmental objectives
(2) Whether and how to
target programs to improve cost-effectiveness and environmental
performance
(3) Whether and how to
use bidding in determining payment levels
(4) Balancing land retirement
with conservation on working lands
(5) Whether to pay for
conservation practices or to link payments to environmental
performance.
Farm
Bill Issues: ERS Research and AnalysisOne-stop
web resource presents selected ERS research and analysis
on major issues in the current congressional debate
leading up to the next Farm Act. ERS examines the economic
effects of current farm legislation on producers, consumers,
taxpayers, and rural communities, and evaluates potential
effects of alternative policies and programs.
Recommended Readings
Agricultural Resources
and Environmental IndicatorsIdentifies trends
in land, water, and biological resources and commercial
input use, reports on the condition of natural resources
used in the agricultural sector, and describes and assesses
public policies that affect conservation and environmental
quality in agriculture. Combining data and information,
this report examines the complex connections among farming
practices, conservation, and the environment, which are
increasingly important components in U.S. agriculture
and farm policy.
See all recommended
readings...
Recommended Data Products
Crop Production
PracticesThis web-based delivery tool allows
the user to create customized data summaries based
on information collected through a series of field-level
commodity surveys. Also known as Phase II of the
Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS), this
series is USDA's primary source of information about
the current status and trends in crop production
practices for several large-acreage crops (corn,
soybeans, wheat, and cotton). This survey also obtains
data on U.S. farmers' agricultural resource use,
as well as data to assess potential environmental
impacts associated with crop production practices.
The ARMS survey yields annual data summaries for
field-level data by crop, including: chemicals and
seeds, equipment, previous crops, highly erodible
land, irrigation, and pest, nutrient and crop residue
management practices. Customized data summaries can
be generated for production years beginning in 1996.
Certified
Organic Farming—In 2005, for the first time,
all 50 States in the U.S. had some certified organic
farmland. This data set surveys organic operations and
acreage for crops and livestock (over 40 commodities),
with some tables dating back to 1992. Data for 2000-2005
include the number of certified operations, by State.
See all recommended
data products...
Related Links
Natural
Resources Conservation ServiceInformation on
conservation and environmental programs.
Farm
Services AgencyInformation on CRP and related
programs.
National Agricultural
Statistics ServiceAgricultural statistics.
Agricultural
Research ServiceInformation on agricultural
and environmental research.
Cooperative
State Research, Education, and Extension ServiceInformation
on university research, extension, and education programs.
See all related links...
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