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Do farmers value the environment? Evidence from a conservation reserve program auction

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  • Vukina, Tomislav
  • Zheng, Xiaoyong
  • Marra, Michele
  • Levy, Armando

Abstract

The paper uses data from one Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) auction to elicit farmers' attitudes toward the environment by analyzing their bids. The CRP pays farmers to remove chosen plots of land from agricultural production and put them to a conservation use. An interesting aspect of this auction is that winners are determined by a combination of low bids and environmental scores of individual plots. Using decision theoretic approach to model this auction we show that farmers condition their bids on the strength of their environmental scores and that they value environmental benefits, especially those that increase future soil productivity of their land.

Suggested Citation

  • Vukina, Tomislav & Zheng, Xiaoyong & Marra, Michele & Levy, Armando, 2008. "Do farmers value the environment? Evidence from a conservation reserve program auction," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 26(6), pages 1323-1332, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:indorg:v:26:y:2008:i:6:p:1323-1332
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