An Economic Analysis of Alternative Conservation Practices Used to Mitigate Non-Point Source Pollution in Mississippi Agriculture

Author

Daniel Sharp Spencer

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Barnes, James N.

Committee Member

Parman, Byron J.

Committee Member

Coatney, Kalyn T.

Committee Member

Coble, Keith

Date of Degree

8-11-2017

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Agricultural Economics

Degree Name

Master of Science

College

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Department

Department of Agricultural Economics

Abstract

The agricultural industry in the United States has seen unprecedented growth in productivity and changes in industry structure. However, some negative environmental effects have emerged related to nitrogen, phosphorous, and sediment runoff. This study developed a novel, community economic systems methodology called the Biophysical and Economic Simulation of Agricultural Production (BESAP) model. This analyzed the economic tradeoff between farm and community level impacts associated with potential water quality standards for mitigating runoff in Mississippi. Key findings include: 1) farm-level net returns decrease with more stringent conservation practices to reduce nutrient runoff; 2) reductions in farm-level net returns have greater indirect cost effects on input suppliers and households than at the farm-level; and 3) farm-level net returns vary significantly depending on the conservation practices used, and the greater the change in farm-level net returns, the greater the net economic effect on the local food system in terms of employment, and valueded.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/20013

Recommended Citation

Spencer, Daniel Sharp, "An Economic Analysis of Alternative Conservation Practices Used to Mitigate Non-Point Source Pollution in Mississippi Agriculture" (2017). Theses and Dissertations. 501.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/501