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Estimating the Derived Demand for Sewage Sludge in Crop Production

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 May 2017

Alex Barbarika Jr. ,
Kenneth E. McConnell ,
Daniel Colacicco  and
William J. Bellows
Alex Barbarika Jr.
Affiliation:
Economic Research Service, U.S.D.A.
Kenneth E. McConnell
Affiliation:
University of Maryland
Daniel Colacicco
Affiliation:
Economic Research Service, U.S.D.A.
William J. Bellows
Affiliation:
National Marine Fisheries Service
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Abstract

One option for the disposal of sewage sludge is land spreading, including application to private croplands. Land spreading may allow some of the sewage treatment costs to the municipality or county to be offset by farmers’ payments for sludge as a crop producing resource. This study investigates the conditions under which a market for sludge will emerge. A linear programming model of a profit maximizing corn for gain farm is formulated and the quantity of sludge available is parametrically varied to trace out marginal productivity curves under various situations. The results for Anne Arundel county, Maryland sludge show a range in value from 0–35 $/ton at application rates from 0–20 tons/acre/year for three years.

Type
Research Article
Information
Northeastern Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics , Volume 14 , Issue 1 , April 1985 , pp. 41 - 47
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association 

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Footnotes

Scientific Article No. A-4024, contribution No. 7008 of the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station.

References

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