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Abstract
The Conservation Reserve Program, one of more than twenty voluntary conservation programs
administered by the United States Department of Agriculture, was initiated under the Agricultural Act of
1985 and has evolved under subsequent farm bills. Today, enrollment acres are selected among
qualifying land based on an environmental benefits index. Total land enrolled will drop to a maximum of
24 million acres under the Agricultural Act of 2014. This report covers a broad scope of existing
literature related to the Conservation Reserve Program. Although much of the literature is dated and
not reflective of today’s markets, the currency of the message is that landowners respond to financial
incentives. Further, uncertainty about the costs and financial benefits has endured as a hindrance to
enrollment that may otherwise be attractive to landowners. Research supports the influence of a host of
additional factors, including those non‐financial. A focus on consideration of local conditions and specific
conservation practices will aid future research, although specificity must be balanced against
incorporating landowner consideration of other land‐use alternatives. The literature emphasizes the
need to educate decision‐makers on all aspects of conservation program options likely to influence their
enrollment decision using a venue that is accessible to them. This information should stress economic
factors and focus on specifics such as the impact of a specific conservation practice locally and the likely
economic impact of various options for the individual producer. We should look for innovative, efficient
methods to increase farmer access to this information to include social networks and peer education.