Conservation Adoption to Increase Resilience to Future Climate Variability

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Naveen Adusumilli and Lyla Duplechain

Drought, extreme temperature and rainfall events can lead to soil erosion, decreased crop yields, water scarcity and overall economic losses for farmers. Farm incomes also have declined in recent years. As a result, there's often a heightened awareness of the need for conservation practices to mitigate the impacts of these events and build resilience in agricultural systems. Thus, demand for conservation activities typically increases significantly following drought and extreme weather events in southern agriculture.

Conservation Dynamic

Studies have shown that extreme weather events can cause erosion, soil compaction and loss of soil fertility. Farmers may adopt conservation tillage practices, such as residue management or no-till or reduced tillage, to minimize soil disturbance and erosion. In recent years, cover crop adoption has seen a substantial increase as the practice has been shown to help improve soil health and structure. Similarly, resource constraints imposed by drought and extreme weather more often than not lead to increased demand for technologies and practices that improve resource efficiency. This includes precision agriculture techniques (e.g., variable rate application of fertilizers and pesticides, pipe-planner based irrigation system and yield monitoring), energy-efficient methods (e.g., annual energy use audits for farm enterprise, reduced tillage or no-till to minimize equipment runs and supplementing traditional energy needs with solar energy) and better nutrient management practices (e.g., soil testing, use of cover crops, split application of fertilizers and use of animal litter to supplement nutrient needs).

Significant droughts or extreme weather events allow for the government to implement or strengthen conservation programs and policies to support farmers in adopting sustainable practices. These often take the form of financial incentives, technical assistance and regulatory measures aimed at promoting conservation and resilience in agriculture. Participation in two Natural Resources Conservations Service programs that primarily drive conservation efforts in working lands, the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program, have significantly increased following major weather events. EQIP helps agricultural producers and landowners address natural resource concerns like erosion and water quality, and the Conservation Stewardship Program helps farmers and ranchers adopt additional conservation activities while maintaining existing ones. For example, the 2015-16 jump (see figure below) in conservation dollar obligations could well be the result of increased participation after the 2014 drought as well as initiation of conservation practices implementation for contracts issued in prior years. Moreover, conservation obligations among farmers can vary depending on the specific provisions of the bill, as well as the broader economic and environmental context.

Government Programs and Policies

It is not uncommon within farm bill programs to modify existing conservation programs, altering eligibility criteria, funding levels or program requirements. As a result, new programs often get introduced aimed at addressing emerging environmental challenges or promoting specific conservation practices. Farmers are often encouraged through incentives to participate in these programs, which could increase their conservation obligations. New programs within the 2024 farm bill could impose new conservation compliance requirements as a condition for receiving certain benefits or subsidies. Mandates could be related to soil conservation or nutrient management. Farmers may need to adopt or intensify conservation practices to remain eligible for farm bill support.

Conservation Ethos

Another crucial component of higher obligations is technical assistance and education, where resources for technical assistance, training and outreach programs are obligated to help farmers implement conservation practices effectively. While these resources can support farmers in meeting their conservation obligations, they may also create expectations or mandates for participation in educational activities. Conservation and stewardship philosophy can influence the broader culture surrounding conservation in agriculture. New farm bill priorities may foster a climate in which farmers feel a greater responsibility to promote sustainability, environmental stewardship, or a conservation-minded approach within their enterprises, thereby increasing their obligations.

Thus, it is important to note that extreme weather events combined with the impact of a new farm bill on conservation obligations among farmers can vary regionally and depending on individual farm circumstances. Although the effectiveness of farm bill conservation programs in achieving environmental outcomes often depends on factors such as funding levels and program design, the willingness of farmers to participate voluntarily provides a strong sense of environmental stewardship among the farmers who need to adapt to changing climate conditions, mitigate risks and ensure the long-term sustainability of agricultural systems.

Naveen Adusumilli is an associate professor in the AgCenter Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness and Lyla Duplechain is an undergraduate student at LSU.

A chart shows the rise and fall of farm income over the past decade.
A bar chart shows the increase and decrease of the demand for federal farm conservation programs.
5/27/2024 9:06:10 PM
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