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• 1. [Article] A New Era of Water Quality Management in Agriculture: From Best Management Practices to Watershed-based Whole Farm Approaches

  Why is reducing water pollution from agriculture such a stubbornly slow process? Despite several policy initiatives since the 1970s, farms and ranches rank as the primary contributors to impairments of ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A New Era of Water Quality Management in Agriculture: From Best Management Practices to Watershed-based Whole Farm Approaches Author: Ervin, David E. Year: 1995 Why is reducing water pollution from agriculture such a stubbornly slow process? Despite several policy initiatives since the 1970s, farms and ranches rank as the primary contributors to impairments of the nation's surface waters [U.S.EPA, 1994b]. Emerging research also points to agricultural chemicals in many cases of groundwater contamination [Barbash and Resek; Mueller, et al.]. After a little reflection, the industry's negative distinction may not be surprising. Covering nearly half the U.S. land base, crop and livestock production inevitably alter natural vegetative cover, apply fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation water, and involve animal wastes. All of these processes can degrade water quality. Without question, cases of water quality improvement as well as degradation occur within agriculture's number one ranking. Stream, lake, and groundwater success stories have come from federal, state, and local efforts. However, the overall weight of the evidence indicates the industry's performance needs to improve rather sharply if the nation's water quality is to advance to a higher plateau in line with broad public preference. This paper's central thesis is that dramatic changes in program approaches are necessary for that advance because of powerful budget, economic, and political forces. Continued reliance on programs subsidizing or regulating best management practices (BMPs) conflicts with those forces in fundamental ways. Moreover, promising technologies and improved water quality science support more flexible, whole farm approaches for targeted priority watersheds. Title: A New Era of Water Quality Management in Agriculture: From Best Management Practices to Watershed-based Whole Farm Approaches Author: Ervin, David E. Year: 1995 Why is reducing water pollution from agriculture such a stubbornly slow process? Despite several policy initiatives since the 1970s, farms and ranches rank as the primary contributors to impairments of the nation's surface waters [U.S.EPA, 1994b]. Emerging research also points to agricultural chemicals in many cases of groundwater contamination [Barbash and Resek; Mueller, et al.]. After a little reflection, the industry's negative distinction may not be surprising. Covering nearly half the U.S. land base, crop and livestock production inevitably alter natural vegetative cover, apply fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation water, and involve animal wastes. All of these processes can degrade water quality. Without question, cases of water quality improvement as well as degradation occur within agriculture's number one ranking. Stream, lake, and groundwater success stories have come from federal, state, and local efforts. However, the overall weight of the evidence indicates the industry's performance needs to improve rather sharply if the nation's water quality is to advance to a higher plateau in line with broad public preference. This paper's central thesis is that dramatic changes in program approaches are necessary for that advance because of powerful budget, economic, and political forces. Continued reliance on programs subsidizing or regulating best management practices (BMPs) conflicts with those forces in fundamental ways. Moreover, promising technologies and improved water quality science support more flexible, whole farm approaches for targeted priority watersheds. Close

• 2. [Article] Common Pool Resource Issues in Managing Herbicide Resistant Weeds

  Controlling herbicide resistance (HR) will require the integration of economics and social science with the biophysical and technological aspects of this growing problem. The existence of mobile herbicide ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Common Pool Resource Issues in Managing Herbicide Resistant Weeds Author: Ervin, David E. Year: 2013 Controlling herbicide resistance (HR) will require the integration of economics and social science with the biophysical and technological aspects of this growing problem. The existence of mobile herbicide resistance and/or herbicide tolerance traits adds complexity as genetic susceptibility to the herbicide is a resource open to all farmers impacting the weed population. Weed scientists have recognized that the “tragedy of the commons” may appear when herbicide resistance is mobile across farms. However, the private and public institutions that can influence individual and group decisions about HR have received sparse analysis. When such conditions prevail, reliance on voluntary education, technical assistance and other incentives aimed at changing individual grower behavior likely will fail to stem the advance of HR. The design principles from Elinor Ostrom’s pioneering research on CPR can be used to inform the design and implementation of such approaches, as well as lessons from CPR approaches outside of HR. Title: Common Pool Resource Issues in Managing Herbicide Resistant Weeds Author: Ervin, David E. Year: 2013 Controlling herbicide resistance (HR) will require the integration of economics and social science with the biophysical and technological aspects of this growing problem. The existence of mobile herbicide resistance and/or herbicide tolerance traits adds complexity as genetic susceptibility to the herbicide is a resource open to all farmers impacting the weed population. Weed scientists have recognized that the “tragedy of the commons” may appear when herbicide resistance is mobile across farms. However, the private and public institutions that can influence individual and group decisions about HR have received sparse analysis. When such conditions prevail, reliance on voluntary education, technical assistance and other incentives aimed at changing individual grower behavior likely will fail to stem the advance of HR. The design principles from Elinor Ostrom’s pioneering research on CPR can be used to inform the design and implementation of such approaches, as well as lessons from CPR approaches outside of HR. Close

• 3. [Article] Will Business-Led Environmental Initiatives Grow in Agriculture?

  This article was stimulated by a 1997 American Agricultural Economics Association annual meeting preconference designed by Batie and Ervin. The authors felt that there was considerable interest and activity ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Will Business-Led Environmental Initiatives Grow in Agriculture? Author: Batie, Sandra S., Ervin, David E. Year: 1998 This article was stimulated by a 1997 American Agricultural Economics Association annual meeting preconference designed by Batie and Ervin. The authors felt that there was considerable interest and activity in business-led environmental management (also caLLed corporate environmental management)-but most of the interest was found outside of the agricultural sector and the profession. The conference was a means to investigate the extent, motivation, and consequences of business-led poLLution prevention activities. The DuPont and the StahLbush Island Farms examples used in this article were drawn from discussions that took place at the conference and which were published in the proceedings. In the article, the authors draw lessons for agriculture informed by the experiences of nonagricultural businesses. They identify and distiLL from these experiences the major roles for the public sector to enable agricultural business-led initiatives to flourish and to be successful. Title: Will Business-Led Environmental Initiatives Grow in Agriculture? Author: Batie, Sandra S., Ervin, David E. Year: 1998 This article was stimulated by a 1997 American Agricultural Economics Association annual meeting preconference designed by Batie and Ervin. The authors felt that there was considerable interest and activity in business-led environmental management (also caLLed corporate environmental management)-but most of the interest was found outside of the agricultural sector and the profession. The conference was a means to investigate the extent, motivation, and consequences of business-led poLLution prevention activities. The DuPont and the StahLbush Island Farms examples used in this article were drawn from discussions that took place at the conference and which were published in the proceedings. In the article, the authors draw lessons for agriculture informed by the experiences of nonagricultural businesses. They identify and distiLL from these experiences the major roles for the public sector to enable agricultural business-led initiatives to flourish and to be successful. Close

• 4. [Article] The Role Of Soil Test Information In Reducing Groundwater Pollution

  Testing soils for nutrients is expected to improve groundwater quality. However, it is unknown whether soil testing will improve groundwater quality sufficiently to decrease the demand for direct regulation ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Role Of Soil Test Information In Reducing Groundwater Pollution Author: Fleming, Ronald A., Adams, Richard M., Ervin, David E. Year: 1998 Testing soils for nutrients is expected to improve groundwater quality. However, it is unknown whether soil testing will improve groundwater quality sufficiently to decrease the demand for direct regulation of agricultural practices. Focusing on an irrigated agricultural region in eastern Oregon, the economic and environmental aspects of soil testing are assessed using a spatially distributed, dynamic simulation model which links economic behavior with the physical processes that determine groundwater quality. Results indicate that soil testing of all fields increases farm profits and reduces groundwater nitrate concentration. However, the benefits are small in terms of potential improvements in groundwater quality. Title: The Role Of Soil Test Information In Reducing Groundwater Pollution Author: Fleming, Ronald A., Adams, Richard M., Ervin, David E. Year: 1998 Testing soils for nutrients is expected to improve groundwater quality. However, it is unknown whether soil testing will improve groundwater quality sufficiently to decrease the demand for direct regulation of agricultural practices. Focusing on an irrigated agricultural region in eastern Oregon, the economic and environmental aspects of soil testing are assessed using a spatially distributed, dynamic simulation model which links economic behavior with the physical processes that determine groundwater quality. Results indicate that soil testing of all fields increases farm profits and reduces groundwater nitrate concentration. However, the benefits are small in terms of potential improvements in groundwater quality. Close

• 5. [Article] Comparative Standards for Intensive Livestock Operations in Canada, Mexico, and the United States

  Livestock farming has been transformed in the past twenty years from a business dominated by relatively small producers to one dominated by large facilities raising thousands of animals. A side effect ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Comparative Standards for Intensive Livestock Operations in Canada, Mexico, and the United States Author: Speir, Jerry, Bowden, Marie-Ann, Ervin, David E., McElfish, Jim, Espejo, Rosario P., Whitehouse, Tim, Carpentier, Chantal L. Year: 2003 Livestock farming has been transformed in the past twenty years from a business dominated by relatively small producers to one dominated by large facilities raising thousands of animals. A side effect of this development has been a new set of environmental concerns unique to this industry. While regulation of livestock agriculture has historically been a state/provincial and local matter, governments from the local to the federal level have found themselves grappling with the issues created by these new, concentrated facilities. This Report surveys the current environmental requirements for "intensive livestock operations" (ILOs) in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The Report draws conclusions about current regulatory regimes and makes recommendations on the management of environmental issues associated with ILOs. Title: Comparative Standards for Intensive Livestock Operations in Canada, Mexico, and the United States Author: Speir, Jerry, Bowden, Marie-Ann, Ervin, David E., McElfish, Jim, Espejo, Rosario P., Whitehouse, Tim, Carpentier, Chantal L. Year: 2003 Livestock farming has been transformed in the past twenty years from a business dominated by relatively small producers to one dominated by large facilities raising thousands of animals. A side effect of this development has been a new set of environmental concerns unique to this industry. While regulation of livestock agriculture has historically been a state/provincial and local matter, governments from the local to the federal level have found themselves grappling with the issues created by these new, concentrated facilities. This Report surveys the current environmental requirements for "intensive livestock operations" (ILOs) in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The Report draws conclusions about current regulatory regimes and makes recommendations on the management of environmental issues associated with ILOs. Close