Factors Influencing and Steps Leading to the Adoption of Best Management Practices by Louisiana Dairy Farmers

Abstract

A logistic regression procedure was used to assess the impact of socioeconomic attributes on the best management practices (BMPs) adoption decision by Louisiana dairy farmers relative to cost-share and fixed incentive payments. Analysis of the steps in the BMP adoption decision process indicated visits between producers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resource Conservation Service significantly increase likelihood of BMP adoption. Producer willingness-to-pay results indicate that marginal increases in dairy BMP adoption and associated improvement in environmental quality require increased technical and financial assistance.

Determinants of the adoption of conservation practices by farmers in the Northwest Wheat and Range Region

“…Studies by Dasgupta et al (2007), Asafu-Adjaye (2008), Paudel et al (2008), and Wu and Babcock (1998) found that farmers' education tends to positively influence their decision to adopt conservation.…”

“…As the level of experience increases, it is more likely the farmers will understand the consequences of environmental degradation and the anticipated value of the conservation practices in question to mitigate erosion. Also, the longer the farmers have been managing, the more expertise they should have, allowing them to implement and manage such practices (Dasgupta et al 2007;Asafu-Adjaye 2008;Paudel et al 2008).…”

“…Several studies have indicated that higher farm income and/or lower financial stress will have a positive influence on adoption of conservation practices (Asafu-Adjaye 2008; Paudel et al 2008;Lamba 2009). Similarly, we hypoth- Table 1 Description of the independent and dependent variables used to assess the frequency of use of conservation structures.…”

Journal of Applied Communications, 2017, vol. 101, no. 1 Full Issue

“…BMPs are backed by research as the most effective, environmentally sustainable, and long-term economically efficient way to manage an operation (Feather & Amacher, 1994;Gillespie, Kim, & Paudel, 2007;Paudel et al, 2008). BMP adoption increases the resiliency in not only individual producers' operations, but also the overall sustainability of the environment, cattle industry, and the economies of rural areas.…”

“…Agriculture has the potential to have both a positive and negative effect on its surrounding environment, communities, and people. BMPs for agricultural producers have been developed from many years of research and are intended to minimize potential environmental impacts of various agricultural production practices while increasing the profitability of producers' operations (Paudel, Gauthier, Westra, & Hall, 2008). In contrast, poor stewardship of grazing lands and farm ground can result in water pollution, soil erosion, and land degradation.…”