Do Farmers Continue Conservation Practices After Government Funding Ends?

The United States government offers monetary and technical support to farmers for implementing environment‐friendly agricultural production practices. However, little is known about whether farmers continue adoption of such practices once government support ends.

A team of researchers from Louisiana and Florida explored the regional adoption patterns of selected conservation practices in the Mississippi Delta region once a three‐year funding period expired. The researchers found that farmers tend to continue implementation of nutrient and irrigation management practices, whereas they are inclined to discontinue cover cropping and conservation tillage practices. However, those who discontinue the adoption of previously funded practices are more likely to switch to alternative conservation practices than to not adopt any conservation practices on their farms.

These findings could be useful for funding agencies aiming to understand potential shifts in the future adoption levels of conservation practices. They also provide a basis for prioritizing funding allocations in programs that encourage the initiation of conservation on working lands.