| Public investment in farmland-based conservation, such as the Conservation Reserve and Wetlands Reserve Programs (CRP and WRP, respectively), have improved the environmental state of many lands. In this study, we posit that CRP and WRP may contribute to a new farm income stream based on the enhanced recreational opportunities perceived by tourists on farmland that has richer wildlife and fish habitat. Using a new field from the 2002 Ag Census, agritourism (recreational activities as hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing) is modeled as a function of place characteristics (natural amenities and urban influence), scale of agricultural lands and sales and CRP/WRP investments in a cross-county analysis of the West. |
