Soil Conservation or Commodity Programs: Trade Offs during the Transition to Dryland Crop Production

irrigation levels decline and dryland acreage inPredicted crop yields and wind erosion rates from creases, the incidence of wind erosion is expected to a multi-year/multi-crop growth simulation model increase. For the Texas High Plains, this is occurring provided input into a multi-period recursive QP at a time when farm policy is emphasizing long-term model to evaluate erosion implications during the soil conservation. One program, conservation comtransition to dryland crop production on the Texas pliance, requires a conservationplan tobe developed Southern High Plains. Three farm-program particiby 1990 and implemented by 1995 for producers to pation options were considered in this study. Particireceive farm program benefits. In some cases, a soil pation in an extension of the current farm program conserving plan may not be as profitable in the short resulted in an increase in net returns and wind eroterm as traditional cropping practices. Long term sion rates above nonparticipation. Imposition of a profitability of soil conservation practices depends soil loss limit without consideration of a flexible on relative prices as well as inherent soil properties base option can significantly reduce discounted preand the ability to substitute selected inputs (fertilizsent values. Increasing risk aversion across producers, lime, irrigation water, etc.) for soil productivity ers affects crop mix selection which can result in over time With farm program participation rates in lower per acre wind erosion rates for this particular excess of 90 percent in some areas of the Southern region. High Plains of Texas, conservation compliance coupled with current base acreage restrictions may pro