Getting More from the U.S. Farm Conservation Water Quality Budget

A World Resources Institute (WRI) analysis finds that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) could achieve seven to 12 times more environmental benefits for the same budget by combining geographic and benefit-cost targeting for water quality improvements. Currently, only about $335 million of the $5 billion annual federal conservation budget is spent on controlling soil erosion and fertilizer runoff. The analysis shows that nitrogen pollution reductions could increase from 91 million pounds annually at $3.65 per pound to 1.1 billion pounds at $0.30 per pound through optimized targeting. However, technical gaps in identifying cost-effective acres, the voluntary nature of programs, and political resistance to shifting funds act as barriers. WRI recommends quantifying environmental benefits, incorporating benefit-cost principles into planning tools, conducting pilot projects, and revisiting state funding allocation formulas.

• Combining geographic and benefit-cost targeting for water quality improvements could yield seven to 12 times more environmental benefits for the same conservation budget compared to the current USDA approach.
• Between 2006 and 2011, approximately 91 million pounds of nitrogen pollution were reduced annually at an average cost of $3.65 per pound; however, targeting models suggest 1.1 billion pounds could be reduced at $0.30 per pound.
• Of the average $5 billion spent annually by federal conservation programs, only approximately $335 million is dedicated to controlling soil erosion and fertilizer runoff.
• If political barriers prevent changing state funding formulas, applying benefit-cost targeting within existing locations could still provide four to nine times the water quality benefits per dollar spent.
• The USDA faces technical, institutional, and political barriers to implementing targeting, including a lack of tools to identify the most cost-effective acres among 304 million acres of U.S. cropland and the challenge of convincing farmers to participate in voluntary programs.

APA

Perez, M. (2014). Getting More from the U.S. Farm Conservation Water Quality Budget. World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/insights/getting-more-us-farm-conservation-water-quality-budget

Chicago

Perez, Michelle. Getting More from the U.S. Farm Conservation Water Quality Budget. World Resources Institute, 2014. https://www.wri.org/insights/getting-more-us-farm-conservation-water-quality-budget.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Perez |first1=Michelle |title=Getting More from the U.S. Farm Conservation Water Quality Budget |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=10 June 2014 |url=https://www.wri.org/insights/getting-more-us-farm-conservation-water-quality-budget |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{perez2014getting, author = {Perez, Michelle}, title = {{Getting More from the U.S. Farm Conservation Water Quality Budget}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2014}, month = jun, url = {https://www.wri.org/insights/getting-more-us-farm-conservation-water-quality-budget}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }