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Status and Trends of USDA Conservation Programs, 2002–2025

Author

Listed:
  • Fuller, Kate Binzen
  • Hellerstein, Daniel
  • Rosenberg, Andrew
  • Subedi, Dipak
  • Feather, Catherine
  • Iovanna, Rich
  • Pratt, Bryan
  • Claassen, Roger

Abstract

USDAʼs conservation programs provide incentives to agricultural producers to improve soil health, wildlife habitat, and water and air quality, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Over time, conservation funding authorized by Farm Bills has changed both in aggregate and in the relative shares of funded programs. In fiscal year 2024, estimated USDA conservation funding authorized by Farm Bills stood at $5.7 billion, with three programs (the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)) accounting for approximately 90 percent of funding. The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provided more than $19 billion in supplemental conservation program funding to be spent from 2023–31, on EQIP, CSP, as well as the Agricultural Conservation Easements Program (ACEP), and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). This report provides a summary of USDA conservation programs and their funding, with a focus on conservation programs in the 2002−18 Farm Bills.

Suggested Citation

  • Fuller, Kate Binzen & Hellerstein, Daniel & Rosenberg, Andrew & Subedi, Dipak & Feather, Catherine & Iovanna, Rich & Pratt, Bryan & Claassen, Roger, 2026. "Status and Trends of USDA Conservation Programs, 2002–2025," Economic Brief 396260, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:uerseb:396260
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.396260
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rosenberg, Andrew & Wallander, Steven, . "USDA Conservation Technical Assistance and Within-Field Resource Concerns," Amber Waves:The Economics of Food, Farming, Natural Resources, and Rural America, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, vol. 2022(Economic ).
    2. Rosenberg, Andrew B & Wallander, Steven, 2022. "USDA Conservation Technical Assistance and Within-Field Resource Concerns," Economic Information Bulletin 327357, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    3. Hansen, LeRoy T., 2007. "Conservation Reserve Program: Environmental Benefits Update," Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association, vol. 36(2), pages 1-14, October.
    4. Claassen, Roger & Bowman, Maria & Breneman, Vince & Wade, Tara & Williams, Ryan & Fooks, Jacob & Hansen, LeRoy & Iovanna, Rich & Loesch, Chuck, "undated". "Conservation Compliance: How Farmer Incentives Are Changing in the Crop Insurance Era," Economic Research Report 261814, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    5. Roger Claassen & Eric N. Duquette & David J. Smith, 2018. "Additionality in U.S. Agricultural Conservation Programs," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 94(1), pages 19-35.
    6. Cramton, Peter & Hellerstein, Daniel & Higgins, Nathaniel & Iovanna, Richard & López-Vargas, Kristian & Wallander, Steven, 2021. "Improving the cost-effectiveness of the Conservation Reserve Program: A laboratory study," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    7. Rosenberg, Andrew B. & Wallander, Steven, "undated". "USDA Conservation Technical Assistance and Within-Field Resource Concerns," USDA Miscellaneous 323865, United States Department of Agriculture.
    8. Mariano Mezzatesta & David A. Newburn & Richard T. Woodward, 2013. "Additionality and the Adoption of Farm Conservation Practices," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 89(4), pages 722-742.
    9. Wallander, Steven & Claassen, Roger & Hill, Alexandra & Fooks, Jacob, 2019. "Working Lands Conservation Contract Modifications: Patterns in Dropped Practices," Economic Research Report 291964, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
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