Exploring Methods of Selecting Cropland for Conservation

Environmental targeting directs program resources to lands where the greatest environmental benefit will be generated for a given expenditure. The CRP offers annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to farmers in exchange for the establishment of longterm resource-conserving covers. Withthe environmental benefits index, the ranking of CRP offers can be based on a broader set of environmental criteria. Using economic valuation techniques, and data on recreation, ERS researchers have demonstrated that it is possible to derive estimates of disaggregated recreational use values to measure and reflect social preference. Results on use values associated with three recreational activities (wildlife viewing, water based recreation, and pheasant hunting)