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Subfield profitability analysis reveals an economic case for cropland diversification

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  • Brandes, Elke
  • McNunn, Gabriel Sean
  • Schulte, Lisa A.
  • Bonner, Ian J.
  • Muth, D. J.
  • Babcock, Bruce A.
  • Sharma, Bhavna
  • Heaton, Emily A.

Abstract

Public agencies and private enterprises increasingly desire to achieve ecosystem service outcomes in agricultural systems, but are limited by perceived conflicts between economic and ecosystem service goals and a lack of tools enabling effective operational management. Here we use Iowa—an agriculturally homogeneous state representative of the Maize Belt—to demonstrate an economic rationale for cropland diversification at the subfield scale. We used a novel computational framework that integrates disparate but publicly available data to map ∼3.3 million unique potential management polygons (9.3 Mha) and reveal subfield opportunities to increase overall field profitability. We analyzed subfield profitability for maize/soybean fields during 2010–2013—four of the most profitable years in recent history—and projected results for 2015. While cropland operating at a loss of US$ 250 ha−1 or more was negligible between 2010 and 2013 at 18 000–190 000 ha (

Suggested Citation

  • Brandes, Elke & McNunn, Gabriel Sean & Schulte, Lisa A. & Bonner, Ian J. & Muth, D. J. & Babcock, Bruce A. & Sharma, Bhavna & Heaton, Emily A., 2016. "Subfield profitability analysis reveals an economic case for cropland diversification," ISU General Staff Papers 201601010800001048, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:isu:genstf:201601010800001048
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    1. G. Denisse Chamochumbi D. & Massimo Ciambotti & Federica Palazzi & Francesca Sgr?, 2022. "The digital transformation process in the agri-food sector: A case study," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2022(2 Suppl.), pages 43-70.
    2. Ronald Revord & Sarah Lovell & Thomas Molnar & Kevin J. Wolz & Chloé Mattia, 2019. "Germplasm Development of Underutilized Temperate U.S. Tree Crops," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-20, March.
    3. Madhu Khanna, 2021. "Digital Transformation of the Agricultural Sector: Pathways, Drivers and Policy Implications," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 43(4), pages 1221-1242, December.
    4. Scott M. Swinton, 2022. "Precision conservation: Linking set‐aside and working lands policy," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 44(3), pages 1158-1167, September.
    5. Capmourteres, Virginia & Adams, Justin & Berg, Aaron & Fraser, Evan & Swanton, Clarence & Anand, Madhur, 2018. "Precision conservation meets precision agriculture: A case study from southern Ontario," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 176-185.
    6. Matthew Langholtz & Ingrid Busch & Abishek Kasturi & Michael R. Hilliard & Joanna McFarlane & Costas Tsouris & Srijib Mukherjee & Olufemi A. Omitaomu & Susan M. Kotikot & Melissa R. Allen-Dumas & Chri, 2020. "The Economic Accessibility of CO 2 Sequestration through Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) in the US," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-24, August.
    7. Chennault, Carrie M. & Valek, Robert M. & Tyndall, John C. & Schulte, Lisa A., 2020. "PEWI: An interactive web-based ecosystem service model for a broad public audience," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 431(C).
    8. Gorelick, David E. & Baskaran, Latha M. & Jager, Henriëtte I., 2019. "Visualizing feedstock siting in biomass production: Tradeoffs between economic and water quality objectives," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    9. Noe, Ryan R. & Nachman, Elizabeth R. & Heavenrich, Hannah R. & Keeler, Bonnie L. & Hernández, Daniel L. & Hill, Jason D., 2016. "Assessing uncertainty in the profitability of prairie biomass production with ecosystem service compensation," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 21(PA), pages 103-108.

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