**GAO-07-1054**                      Published: Sep 10, 2007. Publicly Released: Sep 18, 2007.                  

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## Highlights

The nation's remaining grassland has several important benefits, such as providing land for grazing and wildlife habitat for many at-risk species. However, over the past 3 centuries about half of the grassland has been converted to other uses, principally cropland. In addition to losing important grassland values, such conversions may result in increased spending on federal farm programs, such as crop insurance, especially in marginal areas. GAO examined (1) the extent of grassland conversions to cropland and the cost of farm program payments for these newly converted cropland acres; (2) the relative importance of farm program payments versus other factors in producers' decisions to convert grassland to cropland; and (3) any impact the Sodbuster conservation provision--which places soil erosion standards on certain converted land--has had on limiting grassland conversions.

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## Topics

Agriculture and Food

Agricultural productionAgricultural programsConservationCost analysisCrop insuranceEconomic analysisLand managementLand useSoil conservationSoil erosion