Limited Access to Conservation: Limited-Resource Farmer Participation in the Conservation Security Program in the Southeast

Abstract

The paper examines the joint adoption of conservation tillage, crop rotations, and soil testing by small and limited-resource farmers in the Southeast. The objectives are to determine the potential eligibility of small farmers for the Conservation Security Program, examine socioeconomic factors affecting adoption, and assess the interdependence between adopting different conservation practices. Results indicate that conservation management, ethnicity, and farm characteristics affect practice adoption. Of the producers surveyed in the study, 7% meet Conservation Security Program eligibility requirements, while the other 93% have less than a 20% likelihood of adopting the needed practices to qualify.

Conservation practice complementarity and timing of on‐farm adoption

“…Given the uncertainty of future benefits from investing in conservation practices, in some cases it is optimal to delay adoption until more information about a practice becomes available (Dixit & Pindyck, 1994). Conservation programs may alleviate this uncertainty by providing incentives for farmers to trial conservation practices that allow them to gain first-hand experience and take advantage of complementarities between conservation practices (Bergtold & Molnar, 2010). Conservation practices can be more easily assimilated into production systems where complementary practices are in place.…”

Comparing different types of rural landowners: Implications for conservation practice adoption

“…Because of low income levels and more limited access to land, equipment, capital, and labor, many traditionally underserved farmers, landowners, and operators of small farms, in general, face considerable constraints to adopting conservation practices (Bergtold and Molnar 2010). For example, Nickerson and Hand (2009) found that in making decisions regarding conservation, limited-resource farmers are more impacted by their finances.…”

“…In a survey of small and limited-resource farmers in Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi, Waters (2001) found that a lack of familiarity and "how to" information were barriers to conservation practice adoption. Bergtold and Molnar (2010) found that the vast majority of small and limited-resource farmers in the Southeast did not qualify for the Conservation Security Program (CSP) because it required they adopt three specific conservation practices (i.e., soil testing, crop rotations, and conservation tillage), which were oftentimes incompatible with their farming systems. Furthermore, evidence suggests riparian residential landowners are less knowledgeable about water quality and less willing to implement riparian buffers than agricultural landowners (Armstrong and Stedman 2012).…”

“…To encourage adoption of conservation practices and participation in conservation programs, it is important for conservation personnel to design outreach in consideration of these social, environmental, and economic factors. In addition, policymakers must ensure eligibility requirements do not exclude "targeted" farm operators and other underserved landowners (Bergtold and Molnar 2010).…”

Modeling the Choice of Tillage Used for Dryland Corn, Wheat and Soybean Production by Farmers in Kansas

“…In several past studies, education was found to be a positive factor in the decision to adopt conservation tillage practices (Shortle and Miranowski 1986, Traoré, Landry, and Amara 1998, Wu and Babcock 1998) and was found to negatively affect adoption in others (Bergtold and Molnar 2010). Fuglie (1999) did not find education to be a significant factor in the decision to adopt NT but found education to significantly affect the adoption of other conservation tillage practices.…”