A Spatial Analysis of Conservation Reserve Program Participants: The Impact of Absenteeism on Participation Decisions

摘要: Given that approximately half of all U.S. farmland is leased, absentee (non-operator) landowners have a significant role in agriculture. Because decisions about how to use can be affected by ownership status, tenure far reaching implications for the production food and fiber, as well extent which environmentally sensitive cropped or put into conservation use. In order better understand whether participation decisions, potential responses factors such commodity prices, may vary we exploit unique dataset identifies where participants associated with Conservation Reserve Program contracts live relative land enrolled. These data provide improved spatial information on status previous sources. This study seeks improve our understanding characteristics CRP. findings help policy recognizing heterogeneity across lead respond differently changes market incentives.