Direct monetary losses to the agricultural sector from coal-fired electricity generation and background: A regional analysis

In this paper, we report the results of research to estimate direct monetary losses to agricultural producers in the Ohio River Basin from airborne residuals. Research results support the following conclusions: monetary losses to agricultural producers in the region are on the order of 10–12% of the present discounted value of clean-air production through the year 2000; losses from utilities alone are on the order of 4–5%; losses are highly concentrated in the ORBES portions of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio and primarily related to soybean and corn production; the overwhelming monetary losses are attributable to O3 concentrations in the region.