Cynthia Nickerson
ERS Publications by this Author
Amber Waves Articles by this Author
Agricultural Economist
202-694-5626
Email:
cnickerson@ers.usda.gov
Briefly:Cindy is an economist in the Resource and Rural Economics
Division. Her research focuses on the economics of farmland markets
and agricultural and natural resource policy. Her current research
efforts focus primarily on the causal factors of changes in
farmland markets, and include analyses of trends in land uses,
changes in farmland values and ownership, and the role of tenure in
farm production decisions. Her research also includes the economics
of conservation policy design and program participation, and
analyses of the impacts of farmland preservation programs.
Current projects:
- Driving factors of changes in major land uses
- The impact of ethanol demand on crop acreage patterns
- Determinants of farmland values
- The role of tenure in conservation practice adoption
- U.S. agricultural policies and greenhouse gas emissions
- Examining informed consent "barriers" to increased use of
administrative records for statistical research
Education:
- Ph.D., Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics,
University of Maryland, 2000.
- M.S., Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics,
University of Maryland, 1998.
- M.S. in Environmental Studies from California State University,
1995.
- Certified Public Accountant, 1987.
- B.S., Accounting, Towson University, 1986.
Selected Publications:Nickerson, C., M. Morehart, T. Kuethe, J. Beckman, J. Ifft, and
R. Williams. 2012. Trends in Farmland Values and
Ownership. USDA-ERS Economic Information Bulletin 92,
February.
Nickerson, C. R. Ebel, A. Borchers, and F. Carriazo. 2011. Major Uses of Land in the United States,
2007. USDA-ERS Economic Information Bulletin 89,
December.
O'Donoghue, E., R. Hoppe, D. Banker, R. Ebel, K. Fuglie, P.
Korb, M. Livingston, C. Nickerson, and C. Sandretto. 2011. The Changing Organization of U.S.
Farming. USDA-ERS Economic Information Bulletin 88,
December.
Wallander, S., R. Claassen, and C. Nickerson. 2011. The Ethanol Decade: An Expansion of U.S. Corn
Production, 2000-09. USDA-ERS Economic Information
Bulletin 79, August.
Wallander, S., R. Claassen, and C. Nickerson. 2011.
Where Did the Corn Come From to Fuel the Expansion in Ethanol
Production? Amber Waves (September): 56-57.
Nickerson, C. and A. Borchers. 2011. "U.S. Farmland Tenure
Patterns: Overview," presented at the Agricultural Outlook Forum,
Today's Strategies and Tomorrow's Opportunities, Washington, DC,
February 2011.
Nickerson, C. 2011. "Sharing and Linking Data Amongst Federal
Agencies: Jumping The Informed Consent Hurdle," Invited Panelist
Remarks, NORC Conference on Microdata Access, Washington, D.C.,
February.
Nickerson, C. 2010. "Addressing the Informed Consent "Barrier"
to Sharing and Linking Data." Invited Presentation, FCSM/Council of
Professional Associations on Federal Statistics Statistical Policy
Seminar, Washington, D.C., December.
Nickerson, C. 2010. "Integrating Agriculture and Other Land Use
Statistics: the U.S. Experience." Presentation at the International
Conference on Agricultural Statistics, Kampala, Uganda,
October.
Nickerson, C. 2010. Farm Act's Regional Equity Provision May Entail
Conservation Tradeoffs, Amber Waves, (December).
Hand, M., and C. Nickerson. 2010.
Targeted Farmers in EQIP Operate More Environmentally Sensitive
Land, but Address Different Environmental Needs, Amber
Waves, Sept.
Nickerson, C., C. Claassen, R. Durst, L. Hansen, D. Hellerstein.
2009. "Cash or Credit? Tax Credits and Conservation Outcomes"
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 64(1):22A-26A.
Ribaudo, M. and C. Nickerson. 2009. "Agriculture and water
quality trading: exploring the possibilities." Journal of Soil
and Water Conservation 64(1):1-7.
Nickerson, C. "Effectiveness of Land Management Strategies in
Peri-Urban Areas: What Economic Studies Have to Say" and "Land Use
and Management in Peri-urban Areas: Experiences in the U.S."
Invited speaker at workshop Research and Policy frontiers for the
Management of Peri-Urban Lands. Brisbane, Australia, July 8,
2009.
Nickerson, C. "Environmental Benefits Index: a Lever for
Balancing Multiple Objectives in the U.S. CRP." Two invited
presentations at CSIRO, Canberra and Brisbane Australia, June 26,
2009 and July 3, 2009.
Towe, C., C. Nickerson and N. Bockstael. 2008. "An Empirical
Examination of the Timing of Land Conversions in the Presence of
Farmland Preservation Programs." AJAE, v90(3), August.
Hand, M. and C. Nickerson. 2008. Conservation Access Provisions
May Have Little Impact. Amber Waves, November.
Hardie, I., E. Lichtenberg and C. Nickerson. "Regulation, Open
Space and the Value of Land Undergoing Residential Subdivision."
Land Economics 83(4): 458-474, 2007.
Nickerson, C. and D. Hellerstein. 2007. "Farmland Preservation
Programs: Another Tool for Managing Urban Growth?" Amber
Waves, April.
Nickerson, C. 2007. "EQIP Funds Vary by ERS Region." Amber
Waves, February.
Cattaneo, A*, D. Hellerstein*, C. Nickerson*, and C. Myers.
2006. Balancing the Multiple Objectives in Conservation
Programs. USDA-ERS Economic Research Report 19, May.
Nickerson, C. and D. Hellerstein. 2006. "Conservation Programs:
Balancing Outcomes with a Selection Index." Amber Waves
finding, June.
Nickerson, C. and D. Hellerstein. 2006. "Farmland Preservation
Programs and the Importance of Rural Amenities." Chapter 11 in
Swallow and Johnston, eds. Economics and Contemporary Land Use
Policy: Development and Conservation at the Rural-Urban Fringe.
Resources for the Future, Washington, D.C.
Nickerson, C. and C. Barnard. 2006. Farmland Protection Programs. Chapter 5.6 in
Wiebe and Gollehon, eds. Agricultural and Resource Economics
Indicators, USDA-ERS EIB-16.
Nickerson, C., Hellerstein, D., 2006. "Resource Issues addressed
by CRP contracts varies by region," Amber Waves indicator,
April.
Nickerson, C. 2004. "Effectiveness of Farm and Ranch Land
Protection Programs: What Economic Studies Have to Say." Chapter 3
in What the Public Values about Farm and Ranch Land. Conference
proceedings, Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development, State
College, PA.
Nickerson, C. and D. Hellerstein. 2003. "Protecting Rural
Amenities through Farmland Preservation Programs." Agricultural
and Resource Economics Review 32(1):129-44.
Irwin, E., C. Nickerson and L. Libby. 2003. "Rural Amenities:
What Farmland Amenities are Worth." Choices, August.
Nickerson, C and D. Hellerstein. "Rural Amenities: A Key Reason
for Farmland Protection." Amber Waves, 2003.
Hellerstein, D., C. Nickerson, P. Feather, D. Mullarkey, A.
Tegene, J. Cooper, D. Gadsby, and C. Barnard. 2002. Farmland Protection: the Role of Public
Preferences for Rural Amenities. USDA-ERS AER No. 815.
Hellerstein, D* and C. Nickerson*. 2002. "Farmland Protection
Programs: What Does the Public Want?" Agricultural Outlook
(May).
Nickerson, C. and L. Lynch. 2001. "The Effect of Farmland
Preservation Programs on Farmland Prices." American Journal of
Agricultural Economics 83(2):341-351.
Heimlich, R. and W. Anderson (contributing authors includes C.
Nickerson). 2001. "Development at the Urban Fringe and Beyond:
Impacts on Agriculture and Rural Land." USDA-ERS AER No. 803
(June).
Nickerson, Cynthia. 2001."Smart Growth: Implications for
Agriculture in Urban Fringe Areas." Agricultural Outlook,
pp. 25-28 (April).