The role of conservation in United States’ agricultural policy from the Dust Bowl to today: A critical assessment

IF 5.8 2区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL

Ambio Pub Date : 2023-10-27 DOI:10.1007/s13280-023-01949-7

Silvia Secchi

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Abstract

Historical evidence shows that environmental issues have been secondary to United States’ agricultural policy since the first farm bill in 1933. The farm sector has undergone massive changes in technology and farming practices, but the environmental problems it causes have remained ancillary to productivist goals. Agri-environmental policy has continued to rely on subsidies and voluntary farmer participation, while combining environmental objectives with price and income support aims. The faith of agri-environmental programs is largely determined by what is desirable for safety net purposes, and in times of high crop and livestock prices and increased environmental pressures conservation is particularly underfunded. Additionally, monitoring and program assessment are poorly structured. This is particularly concerning today given the threats of climate change and agriculture’s contribution to it. A major rethinking of these taxpayer-funded programs is necessary to improve their effectiveness. Programs should focus on environmental outcomes and monitoring and assessment should be strengthened.

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从沙尘暴到今天，保护在美国农业政策中的作用：一项关键评估。

历史证据表明，自1933年第一个农业法案以来，环境问题一直是美国农业政策的次要问题。农业部门在技术和农业实践方面发生了巨大变化，但它造成的环境问题仍然是生产力目标的辅助因素。农业环境政策继续依靠补贴和农民自愿参与，同时将环境目标与价格和收入支持目标相结合。农业环境计划的可信度在很大程度上取决于安全网目的的可取性，在作物和牲畜价格高企、环境压力加大的时候，保护资金尤其不足。此外，监测和项目评估的结构也很差。考虑到气候变化的威胁和农业对气候变化的贡献，这在今天尤其令人担忧。有必要对这些由纳税人资助的项目进行重大反思，以提高其有效性。方案应侧重于环境成果，并应加强监测和评估。

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来源期刊

Ambio 环境科学-工程：环境

CiteScore

14.30

自引率

3.10%

发文量

123

审稿时长

6 months

期刊介绍： Explores the link between anthropogenic activities and the environment, Ambio encourages multi- or interdisciplinary submissions with explicit management or policy recommendations. Ambio addresses the scientific, social, economic, and cultural factors that influence the condition of the human environment. Ambio particularly encourages multi- or inter-disciplinary submissions with explicit management or policy recommendations. For more than 45 years Ambio has brought international perspective to important developments in environmental research, policy and related activities for an international readership of specialists, generalists, students, decision-makers and interested laymen.