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The Impact of Energy Production on Farmland Markets: Evidence from New York’s 2008 Hydraulic Fracturing Moratorium

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Abstract

Future conventional and renewable energy production will predominantly occur on farmland, resulting in economic gains as well as potential negative externalities for farmland owners and rural communities. However there is limited research on the economic impact of energy production that takes place on farmland. This study uses the discrete change in expectations caused by the 2008 New York State moratorium on hydraulic fracturing to investigate the net impact of shale gas development on farmland values. We use a difference-in-differences empirical design with a hedonic pricing model. We find that the moratorium led to net economic losses for rural landowners in New York’s Southern tier, as reflected in farmland values declining approximately $1,400/acre.

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Chapter
IntroductionThe Role of Leasing in Farmland MarketsOwnership Turnover Rates and Market EfficiencySpecialized Institutional Features of Farmland MarketsPerformance of Farmland InvestmentsOther Issues in Farmland MarketsConclusion References
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