TARGETING ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN AGRICULTURE: IPM AND BMPS AS ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Abstract

Nonparametric technical efficiency estimates of potentially polluting input use in soybean and wheat indicate substantial heterogeneity across farms. This implies large costs would be associated with uniform standards or incentives to regulate these inputs. While technical efficiency is not observable, indicators of environmentally beneficial practices are found useful predictors.technical efficiency, DEA, environment performance, pollution, Environmental Economics and Policy,