Associate Professor Wendong Zhang and Research Scientist Phil Gassman published in the most recent issue of American Journal of Agricultural Economics. Zhang and Gassman co-authored the article "Evaluating the tradeoff between cost effectiveness and participation in agricultural conservation programs" with Gregory Howard of East Carolina University and Adriana Valcu-Lisman of USDA Economic Research Service.

The article uses survey responses to examine the impacts of three program innovations—reverse auctions, spatially targeted payments, and higher offered payments—on agricultural conservation program cost effectiveness and participation by farmers. Policy simulations show that even with large budgets, the watershed-level nitrogen reduction from all policy interventions remains far below the policy targets set by the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.

Evaluating the tradeoff between cost effectiveness and participation in agricultural conservation programs
Gregory Howard, Wendong Zhang, Adriana Valcu-Lisman, Philip W. Gassman
American Journal of Agricultural Economics
doi.org/10.1111/ajae.12397