The role of public policy in the use of conservation tillage in the USA

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 216; no. 1-2; pp. 89 - 102
• Main Author: Uri, N.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier B.V 14.05.1998; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: AGRICULTURAL SOILS; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; CONSERVATION TILLAGE; CONTROL DE LA EROSION; EROSION; EROSION CONTROL; ETATS UNIS; EUA; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; LABRANZA DE CONSERVACION; LUTTE ANTIEROSION; OPINION PUBLICA; OPINION PUBLIQUE; PLANT PRODUCTION; POLICIES; POLITICAS; POLITIQUE; PRODUCCION VEGETAL; PRODUCTION VEGETALE; PUBLIC OPINION; Public policy; Soil erosion; Soil erosion, conservation, land management and development; Soil science; SOL AGRICOLE; SUELOS AGRICOLAS; TRAVAIL DU SOL DE CONSERVATION; United States; USA; United States; North America; America; Soil erosion; Public policy; United States; Conservation tillage; Policy; Review
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/S0048-9697(98)00140-5

A number of policy tools are used to reduce soil erosion from agricultural lands in the United States, including education and technical assistance, financial assistance, land retirement and conservation compliance requirements. Education and technical assistance by public and private sources can be effective in promoting the adoption of conservation tillage by farmers for whom that practice will be profitable. Financial incentives may be necessary to induce the voluntary adoption of conservation tillage by farmers for whom the practice would not be more profitable than conventional tillage but on whose land the use of conservation tillage would provide substantial offsite benefits.