Swampbusting: Wetland Conversion and Farm Programs, by Ralph E. 

 Heimlich and Linda L. Langner. Natural Resource Economics Division, 

 Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agricuhure. Agricultural 

 Economic Report No. 551. 



Abstract 



Farmers who grow annual crops on converted wetlands, a practice pop- 

 ularly known as swampbusting, will be denied all farm program benefits 

 under the Food Security Act of 1985. Denying price supports to operators 

 converting wetlands can be an effective sanction in some situations, but 

 may be legs effective where tax breaks are the main motive for conversion. 

 Although remaining wetlands may be productive if converted, high conver- 

 sion costs probably make most wetlands unprofitable to convert. Further, 

 the high social value of existing wetlands may outweigh the value of in- 

 creased agricultural production through conversion, particularly in wetland 

 areas critical for wildlife habitat. 



Keywords: Wetland conversion, swampbusting, drainage, potential 

 cropland, farm programs, conservation, wetland functions. 



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