National and Regional Implications of Conservation Compliance

Jay D. Atwood, Klaus Frohberg, Stanley R. Johnson, Thyrele Robertson, Leland Thompson
November 1989  [89-SR 38]

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Suggested citation:

Atwood, J.D., K. Frohberg, S.R. Johnson, T. Robertson, and L. Thompson. 1989. "National and Regional Implications of Conservation Compliance." Staff report 89-SR 38. Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, Iowa State University.


Abstract

Soil erosion as an on-site problem received much attention in the 1985 Food Security Act (FSA), which established programs for the Conservation Reserve and conservation compliance. The 1985 FSA explicitly linked farmers' resource use and conservation activities to benefits received from commodity programs. Much debate has ensued on erosion standards for compliance and farm income trade-offs. Farm-level uncertainties about meeting conservation compliance standards and about the trade-offs between limiting soil loss and maintaining farm income are evident. The objective of the analysis described herein was to provide information on national and regional implications of conservation compliance.