@article{wossink_swinton_2007, title={Jointness in production and farmers' willingness to supply non-marketed ecosystem services}, DOI={10.1016/j.ecolecon.2007.07.003}, abstractNote={This paper highlights how farmers' willingness to supply non-marketed ecosystem services (ES) is influenced by whether or not the non-marketed ES are produced jointly with agricultural products. When marketed products and non-marketed ES share some production inputs the production relationships between the two may be complementary, competitive or substitutive. Using a cost minimization framework, it is shown how complementary relationships lead to costless voluntary provision of non-marketed ES (typically the case for ES that are supportive of provisioning ES for marketed farm products). It is also shown how competitive production relationships lead to provision of non-marketed ES at lower cost than when non-marketed ES are direct substitutes for farm products or are produced outside of agriculture. The paper closes by showing how the minimum willingness to accept (WTA) payment for ES that are complementary/competitive is less than or equal to the minimum WTA for the same ES produced in substitute or independent production relationships.}, number={2}, journal={Ecological Economics}, author={Wossink, Ada and Swinton, Scott M.}, year={2007}, month={Aug} }
 @article{wossink_gardebroek_2006, title={Environmental Policy Uncertainty and Marketable Permit Systems: The Dutch Phosphate Quota Program}, DOI={10.1111/j.1467-8276.2006.00836.x}, abstractNote={Tradable permits are generally considered as an efficient instrument to regulate pollution by individual producers. However, uncertainty about changes in or possible discontinuation of the program could make individual farmers reluctant to invest in tradable permits. This article uses the option approach to derive a theoretical model that shows the impact of policy uncertainty on investment in tradable quota. The empirical assessment provides weak evidence for the existence of option values due to policy uncertainty for phosphate quota in swine production in the Netherlands.}, number={1}, journal={American Journal of Agricultural Economics}, author={Wossink, Ada and Gardebroek, Cornelis}, year={2006}, month={Jan} }
 @article{wossink_denaux_2006, title={Environmental and cost efficiency of pesticide use in transgenic and conventional cotton production}, DOI={10.1016/j.agsy.2006.01.004}, abstractNote={This study focuses on the quantification of pesticide use efficiency for producers of transgenic cotton versus conventional cotton in order to test for the improvement promised by the genetically engineered crop. The environmental and cost efficiency of pesticide use is assessed by means of data envelopment analysis (DEA) and the external effects of pesticide are quantified by means of the pesticide leaching potential. To account for the fact that conditions other than the ‘treatment” (seed type) are not equal in farm surveys the study employs a second step Tobit regression. The data are from a survey of cotton growers in North Carolina, USA. Differences in environmental efficiency are found to be significant between herbicide tolerant and stacked gene (herbicide tolerant and insect resistant) cotton and between stacked gene and conventional cotton. In contrast, no statistically significant differences are found for efficiency of pest control cost. In the follow-up Tobit regression, differences in production environment and in farm, farmer and field characteristics are accounted for so that the contribution of seed type to efficiency can be observed. The regression results confirm the importance of stacked gene cotton for improving the environmental efficiency of pesticide use in cotton. In contrast, seed type was not significant in explaining differences in cost efficiency among North Carolina cotton growers. The new technology reduces pesticide application but these benefits are curbed by the high price of cotton seed (technology fee).}, number={1-3}, journal={Agricultural Systems}, author={Wossink, Ada and Denaux, Zulal S.}, year={2006}, month={Mar} }
 @article{zhengfei_lansink_ittersum_wossink_2006, title={Integrating Agronomic Principles into Production Function Specification: A Dichotomy of Growth Inputs and Facilitating Inputs}, DOI={10.1111/j.1467-8276.2006.00848.x}, abstractNote={This article presents a general conceptual framework for integrating agronomic principles into economic production analysis. We categorize inputs in crop production into growth inputs and facilitating inputs. Based on this dichotomy we specify an asymmetric production function. The robustness of the asymmetric framework is tested using crop‐level panel data on potato production in the Netherlands. The test results do not reject the proposed framework, and the asymmetric specification better represents the underlying production technology.}, number={1}, journal={American Journal of Agricultural Economics}, author={Zhengfei, Guan and Lansink, Alfons Oude and Ittersum, Martin and Wossink, Ada}, year={2006}, month={Jan} }
 @article{cates_chvosta_wossink_2006, title={Swine Producers' Perceptions of Alternative Waste Management Systems}, DOI={10.1300/J064v29n01_06}, abstractNote={A two-stage data collection approach was used to evaluate swine producers' perceptions of factors affecting the adoption of alternatives to the lagoon and sprayfield system. First, in-depth interviews were conducted with swine producers to collect qualitative information on perceived benefits and limitations of the current system. Based on the interview findings, a questionnaire was developed and administered to a sample of North Carolina swine producers using a mail survey. The survey collected information on factors to consider when evaluating alternative technologies, the likelihood of installing alternative technologies with different features and components, and the effect of changes in waste management regulations. © 2006 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.}, number={1}, journal={Journal of Sustainable Agriculture}, author={Cates, Sheryl C. and Chvosta, Jan and Wossink, Ada}, year={2006}, month={Dec} }
 @article{zhengfei_lansink_wossink_huirne_2005, title={Damage control inputs: a comparison of conventional and organic farming systems}, DOI={10.1093/eurrag/jbi015}, abstractNote={Journal Article Damage control inputs: a comparison of conventional and organic farming systems Get access Guan Zhengfei, Guan Zhengfei Corresponding author: Guan Zhengfei, Business Economics, Social Sciences Group, Wageningen University, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, The Netherlands. Telephone: +31-317-483488. Fax: +31-317-482745. Email: guan.zhengfei@wur.nl Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Alfons Oude Lansink, Alfons Oude Lansink Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Ada Wossink, Ada Wossink Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Ruud Huirne Ruud Huirne Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar European Review of Agricultural Economics, Volume 32, Issue 2, June 2005, Pages 167–189, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurrag/jbi015 Published: 01 June 2005}, number={2}, journal={European Review of Agricultural Economics}, author={Zhengfei, Guan and Lansink, Alfons Oude and Wossink, Ada and Huirne, Ruud}, year={2005}, month={Jun} }
 @article{weersink_wossink_2005, title={Lessons from agri-environmental policies in other countries for dealing with salinity in Australia}, DOI={10.1071/EA04156}, abstractNote={Approaches to environmental policy for the agricultural sector have involved education programs, direct regulations, and market mechanisms. The effectiveness of these policies has varied depending on the characteristics of the environmental issue and incentives facing producers. This paper reviews, and provides examples of, agri-environmental policy options and points out the scenarios under which the instrument would be most effective. The paper concludes with recommendations on determining the policy solutions to the problem of salinity in Australia.}, number={11}, journal={Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture}, author={Weersink, A. and Wossink, A.}, year={2005}, month={Jan} }
 @article{wenum_wossink_renkema_2004, title={Location-specific modeling for optimizing wildlife management on crop farms}, DOI={10.1016/j.ecolecon.2003.10.020}, abstractNote={In order to guide conservation and restoration of wildlife in agricultural areas research is needed into the trade-off between wildlife and agricultural production and income. This study presents a location-specific model for optimizing wildlife management on crop farms using integer programming. The model is applied to crop farming in the Netherlands. Most important outcome is a wildlife-cost frontier at the farm level. Model results show that rotating wildlife conservation practices across the farm is economically more attractive than fixed-location practices. Opportunities for use of the insights provided by model results by both policy makers and farmers are analyzed.}, number={4}, journal={Ecological Economics}, author={Wenum, J.H. and Wossink, G.A.A. and Renkema, J.A.}, year={2004}, month={Apr} }
 @article{koeijer_buck_wossink_oenema_renkema_struik_2003, title={Annual variation in weather: its implications for sustainability in the case of optimising nitrogen input in sugar beet}, DOI={10.1016/S1161-0301(02)00048-5}, abstractNote={Efficient crop husbandry is crucial in order to prevent unnecessary emissions of environmentally damaging inputs and to maintain economic soundness, but it raises the question of which productivity and efficiency levels should be realised. Agronomists and economists are still debating this issue, as they base their insights on different production functions: economists assume decreasing returns of input use, whereas the response curve used by agronomists is often described as linear with a plateau (LRP). The first objective of this paper is to reconcile these points of view by showing that due to annual variation in weather individual LRP curves turn into a concave function with decreasing returns when aggregated. The second objective is to present empirical evidence on the impact of weather variation on optimal input levels for the case of nitrogen in sugar beet in The Netherlands. Two methods were used: bio-physical simulation and estimation with a regression model using panel data. Optimal crop growth and nitrogen input were simulated with the Water and Agro-chemicals in the soil and Vadose Environment (WAVE) model, using weather data for 43 years. Parameters were assessed with and without additional weather effects. An agronomic crop growth simulation model such as WAVE might underestimate the effect of variation in weather on the agronomic efficiency of nitrogen, because pests, weeds and diseases as well as the effectiveness of biocides, the sowing date and possible harvesting problems are strongly influenced by the weather. To test for this effect, weather indexes that include these indirect weather effects on the occurrence of pests and diseases were derived from panel data by means of a regression model. These weather indexes were used to re-assess the impact of weather variability on the agronomic efficiency of nitrogen in sugar beet cropping. The results of the bio-physical simulation showed that due to annual variation in weather the agronomic efficiency of nitrogen use was reduced by 10% at the current ratio of prices of nitrogen and sugar beet. The variation in weather, including indirect effects, caused the agronomic efficiency to decrease by 13%. This relatively small decrease suggests that at least some of the indirect weather effects might have an opposite effect on the agronomic efficiency of nitrogen use compared with the direct weather effects. This hypothesis seems to be supported by the absence of a significant correlation between the two weather indexes and by the lower estimated variance of the weather indexes based on panel data.}, number={2}, journal={European Journal of Agronomy}, author={Koeijer, T.J. and Buck, A.J. and Wossink, G.A.A. and Oenema, J. and Renkema, J.A. and Struik, P.C.}, year={2003}, month={Apr} }
 @article{koeijer_wossink_smit_janssens_renkema_struik_2003, title={Assessment of the quality of farmers’ environmental management and its effects on resource use efficiency: a Dutch case study}, DOI={10.1016/S0308-521X(03)00035-0}, abstractNote={Most research on efficiency of farm management focuses on the relationship between an array of individual management variables and technical performance. Few studies have analysed the relationship between the total complex of farm management and technical farm performance. The present study uses the concept of strategic management and applies it to nitrogen management on Dutch arable farms. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was used to assess farm specific efficiency scores for fertiliser use. For a sub-sample of the farms used in the DEA analysis, the strategic management concept was addressed by means of a workshop. The management elements (objectives, internal analysis of weaknesses and strengths, external analysis of opportunities and threats, and synthesis) were made operational by relating them to the introduction of the Mineral Accounting System (MINAS) by 2001 for Dutch arable farms. The external analysis was evaluated by questions about the MINAS rules; the internal analysis was evaluated by questions on the expected consequences for the farmer's N management. An interactive simulation model evaluating whether farmers were able to choose the optimal fertilisation strategy in view of MINAS assessed the ‘quality of the synthesis’. A positive significant correlation was found between the ‘quality of the synthesis’ and N efficiency.}, number={1}, journal={Agricultural Systems}, author={Koeijer, T.J. and Wossink, G.A.A. and Smit, A.B. and Janssens, S.R.M. and Renkema, J.A. and Struik, P.C.}, year={2003}, month={Apr} }
 @article{wossink_2003, title={Biodiversity conservation by farmers: analysis of actual and contingent participation}, DOI={10.1093/erae/30.4.461}, abstractNote={This paper examines actual and contingent participation by Dutch arable farmers in biodiversity conservation programmes. Probit and Tobit modelling were used to analyse the effect of farm and farmer characteristics and farmer attitudes on participation. The optimal bid offer was derived from a referendum contingent valuation (CV) survey for a proposed field margin programme. The results indicate that actual and contingent participation are better explained by the production environment and by familiarity with conservation programmes than by farmer characteristics or field characteristics. Contingent participation was significantly affected by farmers' perceptions of weed risks. The CV experiment suggested that up to 60 per cent participation might be achieved with appropriate bid offers.}, number={4}, journal={European Review of Agricultural Economics}, author={Wossink, G. A. A.}, year={2003}, month={Dec} }
 @article{pacini_wossink_giesen_vazzana_huirne_2003, title={Evaluation of sustainability of organic, integrated and conventional farming systems: a farm and field-scale analysis}, DOI={10.1016/S0167-8809(02)00091-9}, abstractNote={Agricultural researchers widely recognise the importance of sustainable agricultural production systems and the need to develop appropriate methods to measure sustainability. The principal purpose of this paper is to evaluate the financial and environmental aspects of sustainability of organic, integrated and conventional farming systems (OFS, IFS and CFS, respectively) at farm level and on more detailed spatial scales. This was achieved by applying an integrated economic-environmental accounting framework to three case study farms in Tuscany (Italy) covering different farming systems (FSs) and different spatial scales. The environmental performances of the FSs were measured through the application of an environmental accounting information system (EAIS) at field, site and farm level. The EAIS indicators were then integrated with: (1) a set of financial indicators to evaluate the economic and environmental trade-offs between different FSs and (2) with information on the regional and site-specific soil and climate conditions to study the impact of different pedo-climates on the environmental performances of the FSs. The gross margins of steady-state OFSs were found to be higher than the corresponding CFS gross margins. The OFSs perform better than IFSs and CFSs with respect to nitrogen losses, pesticide risk, herbaceous plant biodiversity and most of the other environmental indicators. However, on hilly soils, erosion was found to be higher in OFSs than in CFSs. The pesticide and the nitrogen indicators in this study showed a similar environmental impact caused by integrated and conventional farming practices. Regional pedo-climatic factors were found to have a considerable impact on nutrient losses, soil erosion, pesticide risk and herbaceous plant biodiversity, site-specific factors on nutrient losses and soil erosion. Results at field level suggest that herbaceous plant biodiversity and crop production are not always conflicting variables. Results of the case study farms are discussed and compared with environmental sustainability thresholds reported from EU Directives on nitrate and pesticides in groundwater and the literature.}, number={1}, journal={Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment}, author={Pacini, Cesare and Wossink, Ada and Giesen, Gerard and Vazzana, Concetta and Huirne, Ruud}, year={2003}, month={Mar} }
 @article{pacini_giesen_wossink_omodei-zorini_huirne_2003, title={The EU’s Agenda 2000 reform and the sustainability of organic farming in Tuscany: ecological-economic modelling at field and farm level}, DOI={10.1016/j.agsy.2003.07.002}, abstractNote={Sustainability has become a central issue in the agricultural sector, both for researchers, producers and policy-makers. The two main objectives of this paper are: (1) to present an holistically designed ecological-economic model to evaluate farm and field-level environmental-economic tradeoffs with special reference to multi-objective policy-making and (2) to evaluate the impact of the Agenda 2000 reform on sustainability of organic farming. The model was implemented for the case of organic dairy farming in northern Tuscany (Italy). Minor differences were found between the environmental and technical results of the model under the MacSharry and Agenda 2000 reforms. However, gross margins under the Agenda 2000 regulations were considerably higher. The spatial detail of the model proved particularly useful in the evaluation of the impact of environmental sustainability thresholds. Sensitivity analysis indicated the weak environmental points of the farming system (in this case mainly soil erosion) and the feasible levels of the various environmental aspects and their associated socio-economic costs. The application of the model for alternative policy scenarios provided insights into ways in which the cost economic efficiency of the Agenda 2000 agri-environment support scheme could be improved. The paper concludes with suggestions for further model research to contribute to the design of cost-efficient agri-environment payment schemes.}, number={2}, journal={Agricultural Systems}, author={Pacini, Cesare and Giesen, Gerard and Wossink, Ada and Omodei-Zorini, Luigi and Huirne, Ruud}, year={2003}, month={Nov} }
 @article{wossink_osmond_2002, title={Farm economics to support the design of cost-effective Best Management Practice (BMP) programs to improve water quality: Nitrogen control in the Neuse River Basin, North Carolina}, volume={57}, ISBN={0022-4561}, number={4}, journal={Journal of Soil & Water Conservation}, author={Wossink, G. A. A. and Osmond, D. L.}, year={2002}, pages={213} }
 @article{koeijer_wossink_struik_renkema_2002, title={Measuring agricultural sustainability in terms of efficiency: the case of Dutch sugar beet growers}, DOI={10.1006/jema.2002.0578}, abstractNote={Sustainability embraces socio-economic and bio-ecological dimensions or attributes. This paper presents a conceptual framework for quantifying sustainability on the basis of efficiency theory commonly used in economics. The conceptual model is implemented using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Sustainability is measured for a sample of Dutch sugar beet growers. The average technical efficiency was only 50%. A positive correlation was found between technical efficiency and sustainable efficiency. Differences in efficiency among farmers were persistent within and between years. We conclude that there is considerable scope for improving the sustainability of arable farming by better management.}, number={1}, journal={Journal of Environmental Management}, author={Koeijer, T.J. De and Wossink, G.A.A. and Struik, P.C. and Renkema, J.A.}, year={2002}, month={Sep} }
 @article{wossink_lansink_struik_2001, title={Non-separability and heterogeneity in integrated agronomic–economic analysis of nonpoint-source pollution}, ISBN={0921-8009}, DOI={10.1016/S0921-8009(01)00170-7}, abstractNote={This paper highlights two aspects that are crucial in the management of agricultural nonpoint-source pollution but that are typically not taken into account in applied economic studies. Firstly, production, pollution and abatement are to be treated as non-separable to include control options provided by changes in production practices. Besides, non-separability enables proper account to be taken of the material flow through production processes and changes the perspective on optimal environmental regulations. Secondly, the resolution or level of spatio-temporal aggregation should capture the heterogeneity in the economic and ecological attributes (production condition, fixed but allocatable inputs and technology set) of the individual decision-maker's policies they intend to influence. The implications of non-separability and heterogeneity for empirical studies and for policy are illustrated by two simulation studies on nitrogen and pesticide use in crop farming.}, number={3}, journal={Ecological Economics}, author={Wossink, G.A.A and Lansink, A.G.J.M Oude and Struik, P.C}, year={2001}, month={Sep} }
 @article{smit_stoorvogel_wossink_2000, title={A methodology to support the decision to invest in spatially variable nitrogen fertilisation}, DOI={10.1016/S1573-5214(00)80018-4}, abstractNote={This paper reports a methodology to define and select basic activities for spatially variable N-management, referred to as management tracks. Their main purpose is to support decision making whether or not to apply variable nitrogen fertilisation. The methodology is based on biophysical simulation of crop growth and nitrogen leaching (WAVE) in combination with economic optimisation (linear programming) and enables a normative environmental-economic evaluation of site specific N-management to be made. The partial results of a case study with an input-intensive and an input-extensive crop (ware potato and winter wheat, respectively) showed that site specific nitrogen management led to positive returns over variable costs compared to uniform N-application, conditional on the validity of the WAVE model used in simulating yield effects. The investments that could be allowed for at maximum were 6,300 Dfl and 13,500 Dfl for winter wheat and ware potato, respectively, assuming application to an area of 100 ha. A pollution tax or a tax on nitrogen designed to internalise pollution costs in agricultural production raises these maximum amounts to 7,600 and 33,700 Dfl, respectively. practical feasibility requires site-specific nitrogen management to be integrated with time specific management since optimal N-tracks were found to be highly weather dependent. Besides, spatially variable management cannot be achieved unless good farming practices (soil testing and crop scouting) are already in place.}, number={3-4}, journal={NJAS - Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences}, author={Smit, A.B. and Stoorvogel, J.J. and Wossink, G.A.A.}, year={2000}, month={Dec} }
 @article{vukina_wossink_2000, title={Environmental Policies and Agricultural Land Values: Evidence from the Dutch Nutrient Quota System}, volume={76}, DOI={10.2307/3147038}, abstractNote={The paper analyzes the impact of the phosphate-based animal production rights on agricultural land values in the Netherlands. We claim that the existence of mandatory production control program with regional restriction on trading causes a disproportional increase in land prices in the surplus region where the quota is binding, relative to the deficit region where the quota is not binding, and that the increase in the cost of environmental compliance should generate an eroding effect on the existing gap in land prices. The parameters of an inverse land demand model estimated with panel data support both hypotheses.}, number={3}, journal={Land Economics}, author={Vukina, Tomislav and Wossink, Ada}, year={2000}, month={Aug}, pages={413–429} }
 @article{koeijer_wossink_ittersum_struik_renkema_1999, title={A conceptual model for analysing input–output coefficients in arable farming systems: from diagnosis towards design}, DOI={10.1016/S0308-521X(99)00030-X}, abstractNote={Environmental legislation is forcing a rethink about desirable crop production systems. The development of new production systems that meet economic and environmental objectives demands knowledge about which input–output combinations are feasible and optimal in practice. A review of concepts in agronomy and in farm and behavioural economics leads to a conceptual model with a division into production levels and accompanying production restricting factors. The highest production level can be defined by merely agronomic growth factors; the next production level is restricted by a mixture of economic and other agronomic factors. The two lowest levels are further restricted by taking into account the socio-psychological factors. With the production restricting factors of the conceptual model the differences in agronomic efficiency of actual and theoretical input–output combinations will be analysed in order to find out which input–output combinations will be feasible and optimal in practice.}, number={1}, journal={Agricultural Systems}, author={Koeijer, T.J and Wossink, G.A.A and Ittersum, M.K and Struik, P.C and Renkema, J.A}, year={1999}, month={Jul} }
 @article{wossink_1999, title={Co-ordinating economic, behavioural and spatial aspects of wildlife preservation in agriculture}, DOI={10.1093/erae/26.4.443}, abstractNote={Journal Article Co-ordinating economic, behavioural and spatial aspects of wildlife preservation in agriculture Get access A Wossink, A Wossink Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar J van Wenum, J van Wenum Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar C Jurgens, C Jurgens Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar G de Snoo G de Snoo Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar European Review of Agricultural Economics, Volume 26, Issue 4, December 1999, Pages 443–460, https://doi.org/10.1093/erae/26.4.443 Published: 01 December 1999}, number={4}, journal={European Review of Agricultural Economics}, author={Wossink, A.}, year={1999}, month={Dec} }
 @article{buck_schoorlemmer_wossink_janssens_1999, title={Risks of post-emergence weed control strategies in sugar beet: development and application of a bio-economic model}, DOI={10.1016/S0308-521X(99)00010-4}, abstractNote={Abstract In The Netherlands, new farming systems have been developed that combine environmental sustainability with technical feasibility. Adoption of these new production strategies in practice seems to be hampered by their association with high levels of risks. In the case of weed control in sugar beet the risks of the new techniques concern manageability and probability of success in relation to meteorological aspects. The Bio-Economic model on STrategy choice in Weed control IN Sugar beet (BESTWINS) allows an efficient and consistent comparison of strategies ranging from conventional to environmentally friendly with respect to risk. Risk is calculated by implementing the various strategies under a range of meteorologically determined conditions. Risk is measured by the statistical value distributions of characteristic parameters of the weed control strategies; e.g. cost and required labour and active chemical ingredient. Calculations show that more sustainable strategies do not necessarily imply an increase in risk. Labour requirements for manual weeding are generally higher than for the biological strategy, but under exceptional conditions (95% point) other strategies show high requirements as well. Intensive tractor use increases labour requirements for strategies with row spraying combined with mechanical techniques. ©}, number={3}, journal={Agricultural Systems}, author={Buck, A.J and Schoorlemmer, H.B and Wossink, G.A.A and Janssens, S.R.M}, year={1999}, month={Mar} }
 @article{wossink_rossing_1998, title={On increasing returns and discrete choice: integrating production ecological principles in economic analysis of crop management}, DOI={10.1006/jema.1998.0228}, abstractNote={In contrast to conventional inputs (land, labor and capital) pesticides and nutrients act indirectly on output. This paper develops a model of pesticide and nutrient response based on the biological and physical processes that govern agricultural ecosystems. The main implications for pesticides are that the marginal returns for an individual crop depend on three state variables (potential yield level, growth conditions and pest incidence) and on the relative curvature of the control and damage functions. The properties of functional forms commonly used in the literature imply increasing returns to the control input which reduces the control decision to a binary one. When several control methods are available, the choice set consists of discrete options which are site specific because of the interaction with the prevailing growing conditions. The analogous conclusions hold for nutrient inputs when considered jointly. To illustrate the implications of these results for crop management two case studies are presented. The first case study explores economic and environmental performance of alternative farming systems, the second case study assesses options for a pesticide levy system as part of future environmental policy.1998 Academic Press}, number={3}, journal={Journal of Environmental Management}, author={Wossink, G.A.A. and Rossing, W.A.H.}, year={1998}, month={Nov} }