The role of conservation programs in drought risk adaptation

Steven Wallander; Marcel Aillery; Daniel Hellerstein; Michael Hand

Treesearch

The role of conservation programs in drought risk adaptation

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Steven Wallander, Marcel Aillery, Daniel Hellerstein, Michael Hand

Year:

2013

Type:

Other

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

Economic Research Report ERR-148. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. 68 p.

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Abstract

This report evaluates the extent to which farms facing higher levels of drought risk are more likely to participate in conservation programs, and fi nds a strong link between drought risk and program participation. Prior research has shown that climate-related risk exposure infl uences production decisions such as crop choice; our research shows that adaptation also includes program participation decisions. Programs like the Conservation Reserve Program and Environmental Quality Incentives Program play a role in drought preparedness and climate adaptation even if they do not directly target such behavior. Conservation program outcomes are infl uenced by regional differences in production risk, so participation choices due to drought risk can be an important consideration in designing such programs.

Keywords

climate, conservation programs, drought, adaptation, irrigation efficiency, land retirement, risk, tillage

Citation

Wallander, Steven; Aillery, Marcel; Hellerstein, Daniel; Hand, Michael. 2013. The role of conservation programs in drought risk adaptation. Economic Research Report ERR-148. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. 68 p.