Government Programs for Soil Conservation

Abstract

Farmers and landowners are increasingly looking to the federal government for financial support and a comprehensive policy that would encourage the reduction of soil loss on agricultural lands. One general problem has been developing a policy that is both effective and equitable. Of the options available, the most discussed proposal has been the cross-compliance program that bases other agricultural program benefits on the ability of the farmer to meet a specified soil conservation standard. This study concludes that such a policy would have a regressive impact on farmers, and probably consumers, and would in the long run be ineffective.