Economics of soil health management systems that sequester carbon: key research needs for the northeastern United States

Abstract

Agricultural practices such as cover crops and no-till systems can maintain and improve soil health and productivity and help to address climate change by sequestering carbon. However, economic costs and returns to farmers influence the rate of adoption of these practices. This paper reviews published studies that address the economic factors associated with using cover crops and no-till systems in the northeastern United States. Farmers typically bear all of the costs of adopting soil health practices, while both the farmer and society receive benefits. Variability of economic outcomes for soil health practices over time and the number of years such practices have been used have been shown to be factors influencing long-term economic benefits of the practices. Recent studies for the northeastern United States have been limited and have largely been done at the plot-scale, pointing to the need for studies using datasets from a broader land base and with a broader range of economic analysis tools. Further examination is also needed to evaluate the potential benefit of public and private financial incentives that encourage adoption of carbon-sequestering soil health practices.

Citation

Rejesus, Roderick M.; Aglasan, Serkan; Knight, Lynn G.; Cavigelli, Michael A.; Dell, Curtis J.; Lane, Erin D.; Hollinger, David Y. 2024. Economics of soil health management systems that sequester carbon: key research needs for the northeastern United States. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-217. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 27 p. https://doi.org/10.2737/NRS-GTR-217.