ABSTRACT
Predicting the adoption of soil conservation practices by agriculturalists has proved problematic. Positive attitudes towards conservation do not, of themselves, always lead to changes in production practice. However, change does follow from the application of economic incentives and offers of technical assistance. Agriculturalists are strongly influenced by concerns about profitability and risk. Governments can affect profitability and the adoption of soil conservation practices either by targeting subsidies, as in the past, or by enforcing environmental standards. Concern about the development of this second option should encourage US agriculturalists to increase their own industry’s efforts to reduce soil losses and also sediment and chemical pollution. The alternative to self-regulation may be regulation drawn up and enforced by non-farm interests.
