Economic Analysis of Climate Change Best Management Practices in Vermont Agriculture

摘要: Climate change impacts local agricultural systems in detectable and distinguishable ways from large-scale shifts water, land, weather patterns to regionally specific distributions of weeds, pests, diseases. Best management practices for adapting mitigating the effects climate include modifications farm production through adjusted intensity product types changing land use crop siting tillage practices. Farmer perceptions risk profitability best are key determinants adoption, which traditional incentive programs like Environmental Quality Incentive Program attempt address by providing financial technical support. To ensure that payments offered these maximize regional must be based upon locally established costs. This paper focuses on cost implementing maintaining (CCBMPs) twelve diverse farms Vermont. Specifically, three CCBMPs Vermont examined: cover cropping, intensive rotational grazing (MIRG), riparian buffer strips. Results show average cropping is $129.24/acre, MIRG $79.82/acre, a tree strip $807.33/acre. We conclude existing below costs, likely resulting under-adoption.