EFFECTS ON FARM INCOME AND THE ENVIRONMENT FROM TARGETING AGRICULTURAL BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPS)

To evaluate potential effects on net farm income and water quality from specific agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs), estimates of phosphorus loading for current and alternative farming methods were combined with cost and return estimates to create a positive mathematical programming model of a major watershed. Targeting specific BMPs to susceptible regions was the most effective policy for improving water quality. This had smaller negative impacts on farm income than not targeting BMPs to reduce phosphorus effluent from agriculture.