Evaluation of agricultural policy alternatives to control sedimentation

Seitz, Wesley D.; Sands, Michael B.; Spitze, Robert G.F.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/89947 Copy

Description

Title

Evaluation of agricultural policy alternatives to control sedimentation

Author(s)

• Seitz, Wesley D.
• Sands, Michael B.
• Spitze, Robert G.F.

Contributor(s)

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Purdue University

Issue Date

1975-02

Keyword(s)

• Water resource development
• Water resource development--Illinois
• Agriculture
• Erosion
• Sedimentation
• Agricultural policy
• Conservation tillage
• Watershed linear programming

Geographic Coverage

Illinois (state)

Abstract

Alternative policies for reducing the level of erosion and sedimentation are evaluated with a linear programming analysis of farms in a selected watershed. Three conservation practices and three tillage practices are considered in combination with six crop rotations on approximations of nine actual farms located in representative sections of the watershed. The impact of these practices on crop production costs and yields is considered, as is the impact on the off-site damages to the drainage system and the reservoir. Policies considered included subsidization of the cost of adopting conservation practices and subsidies to induce removing land from production, several forms of regulations and an effluent tax. Where appropriate the policies were analyzed assuming implementation at both the watershed and the farm level. This analysis indicates that soil conservation practices should be increased substantially in order to reduce the gross soil loss in the watershed from over 20 to approximately 6 tons per acre per year. This reduction is most efficiently accomplished by modifying conservation practices, tillage practices, and crop rotations. An important finding is the indication that several alternative policies can be applied at either the watershed or the farm level and without regard to the farms' proximity to the reservoir, with very little difference in results.

Publisher

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Water Resources Center

Type of Resource

text

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/89947

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

• U.S. Geological Survey
• U.S. Department of the Interior

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 1975 held by Wesley D. Seitz, Michael B. Sands, Robert G. F. Spitze

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