Farm Bill Conservation Programs Economic Impact Analysis

This research report presents an economic impact analysis of the Farm Bill Conservation Programs, specifically focusing on the funding committed through the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 and the Inflation Reduction Act from FY2019 to FY2024. The study, commissioned by The Nature Conservancy and conducted by BW Research, evaluates the economic effects of approximately $21.7 billion in federal financial assistance allocated to various conservation programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, Conservation Stewardship Program, Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, and Regional Conservation Partnership Program. The report outlines the anticipated impacts on national employment, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employee wages, and tax revenue over a ten-year period. Key findings indicate that these investments are projected to support over 46,700 jobs annually, generate approximately $3.4 billion in GDP, and yield significant tax revenues for local, state, and federal governments. The methodology employed includes the use of IMPLAN Input-Output models to estimate these economic impacts.