A Spatial Equilibrium Model for Evaluating Alternative Policies for Controlling Sediment from Agriculture

A model for evaluating alternative sediment control policies in agriculture is formulated such that changes in the production of agricultural commodities among and within 105 agricultural production areas can be analyzed. The model combines the elements of spatial economic equilibrium with physical and technical aspects of cropland agriculture. Five alternative sediment control policies as might be formulated by national environment planning agencies are analyzed. The analysis of the alternative policies do not give a definitive solution to sediment water quality problems but rather provide significant information on technical, regional and cost distributions of agricultural production to help decision makers formulate national sediment control policies.