Mutually Insured Destruction: How Unchecked Crop Insurance Subsidies Harm the Environment

United States agricultural policy has huge impacts upon wildlife and its habitats. Historically, subsidy payments were tied to requirements that farmers take basic conservation measures (conservation compliance) on their lands. With the emergence of crop insurance as a large part of the farm safety net it is critical to link conservation compliance with these policies in order to protect our lands, water and habitat that wildlife depends upon.