Economic Analyses of Agricultural Land-Use Change and Agro-Ecosystem Services for Waterfowl in North Dakota

Abstract

Understanding the relationship between crop production and wildlife habitat in North Dakota - which contains a large portion of the Prairie Pothole Region - will be essential to the continuation of both in a region facing increasing pressure on its natural resources. This research aims to better understand the relationship through economic analysis of land-use change within the region. Utilizing yield, price and budget data for crops in North Dakota, cumulative distribution functions were constructed to compare crops between nine regions within North Dakota. This research will then be able to suggest regions where crops beneficial to wildlife habitat as well as to the producer - notably winter wheat - could be pursued.