By Blake Jackson
A new study led by Penn State researchers suggests that conservation programs focused on improving water quality may achieve better results by prioritizing rural farms over urban ones.
These programs, often supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), offer incentives to farmers to adopt best management practices (BMPs), such as using manure pits and planting riparian buffer strips to prevent pollution.
Published in Land Economics, the study reviewed data from 3,743 farms across 38 counties in Pennsylvania. It found that rural farmers are more likely to adopt BMPs only when incentives are offered.
In contrast, farmers in more urban settings tend to adopt these practices voluntarily, even without financial rewards.
“If we assume the benefits are roughly uniform across the state, our research suggests it may be better in terms of cost to target farms that are in much more rural areas,” said Douglas Wrenn, lead author of the study.
The concept behind this strategy is known as “additionality.” It refers to the effectiveness of public funds in causing new actions that would not occur otherwise. In highly rural areas, additionality reached 85% to 90%, compared to 70% to 75% in urban areas.
The Chesapeake Bay watershed, which spans much of Pennsylvania, is a key focus for these clean water efforts due to pollution from nitrogen and phosphorus.
While the EPA can regulate major facilities, it cannot directly control farm practices, making voluntary participation essential.
The study highlights that while rural targeting improves cost efficiency, further research could assess if urban efforts offer greater social benefits due to population density.
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Categories: Pennsylvania, Government & Policy