The Conservation Reserve Program: Economic Implications for Rural America

• DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.614511
• Publication Date: 2011-12-28T16:12:31Z
• Authors: Patrick Sullivan; Daniel Hellerstein; LeRoy Hansen; Robert Johansson; Steven Koenig; Ruben N. Lubowski; William D. McBride; David A. McGranahan; Michael J. Roberts; Stephen J Vogel; Shawn Bucholz
• Keywords: Conservation Reserve Program

This report estimates the impact that high levels of enrollment in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) have had on economic trends rural counties since program's inception 1985 until today. The results a growth model and quasi-experimental control group analysis indicate no discernible by CRP aggregate county population trends. Aggregate employment may slowed some high-CRP counties, but only temporarily. High appear to affected farm-related businesses over long run, number other nonfarm moderated CRP's total employment. If contracts ended 2001, simulation models suggest roughly 51 percent land would returned crop production, spending outdoor recreation decrease as much $300 million per year areas. resulting impacts income vary widely among regions having similar enrollments, depending upon local conditions.