Jason S. Bergtold, Kansas State University
Amanda Smith, University of Georgia
Marshall Lamb, USDA-ARS
Leah Duzy, USDA-ARS
This chapter introduces the economics of conservation and provides tools for farmers and agricultural professionals to examine the benefits and costs of conservation tillage systems in the Southeast. The first section examines conservation economics, specifically the use of conservation tillage, and introduces two economic tools: partial budgeting and enterprise budgets. The second section provides an in-depth look at the economics of adding a cover crop to a conservation system. The final section examines government incentive programs that help farmers adopt and install conservation practices.