FARM-LEVEL IMPACTS OF THE COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ACT PROPOSED EROSION REGULATIONS

In May 1991, the EPA proposed management measures for controlling erosion in the coastal zone regions of the U.S. One proposed management measure for cropland soil erosion and sedimentation would require producers to limit cropland soil erosion to the lesser of T (soil loss tolerance) or that occurring with conservation tillage. This study estimated the farm level impacts on cropping patterns, soil erosion, and economic returns associated with selected coastal zones complying with this proposed regulation. Three sites were selected for analysis: (1) Texas Coast, (2) Coastal Georgia, and (3) Northern Indiana. The method of analysis was a farm profit maximization program. Farming practices data were incorporated into the models, and the 1987 National Resources Inventory (NRI) data base provided regional hectares of each crop on each of four land types with different soil erodibility. The results indicate that the Texas Coastal Bend is currently within compliance, thus, there would be little to no expected impact from the proposed guidelines. For Coastal Georgia and Northern Indiana, row crops on erodible productive land would be expected to shift with bay on less productive land, giving a 25 percent and 43 percent reduction in sheet and rill erosion for the two areas. These shifts in cropping patterns would result in about 3.25 percent and 3.59 percent reduction in net returns for the case farms.