RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Drainage water management impact on farm proftability
JF Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
FD Soil and Water Conservation Society
SP 443
OP 446
VO 62
IS 6
A1 A. P. Nistor
A1 J. Lowenberg-DeBoer
YR 2007
UL http://www.jswconline.org/content/62/6/443.abstract
AB Federal conservation programs included in various farm bills with regard to controlled drainage establish the context for further actions to reduce nutrient pollution in the Gulf of Mexico. This study calibrates the financial incentives presented to farmers regarding the adoption of controlled drainage technology that improves downstream drainage water quality by using a representative farm-planning model. The results show that controlled drainage can be more profitable than free-flowing whole-farm field drainage as long as the minimum yield advantage with controlled drainage is 2% with subsidy and 4% without subsidy respectively. However, even with a 10% yield advantage due to controlled drainage, the lack of labor during key periods may limit adoption of controlled drainage technology.