Perceived Profitability and Farmers‘ Conservation Behaviour

Abstract

Attempts to reduce land degradation by influencing the management behaviour of farmers will be better informed when the relative importance of factors influencing the use of %onservation practices aimed at enhancing longer-term land productivity can be quantijed. Land managers' perceptions of the technical feasibility and profitability of such practices will play an important role in the decisions about their use. Of particular interest is the relative importance of an individualS perceptions of the profitability of conservation behaviours and the individual's conservation orientation. In a pretest-post test study the influence of prior perceptions about two 'conservation' practices, and of environmental orientation, on the subsequent behaviour of farmers is investigated. A logistic regression model is developed to show the relative influence of perceptions of profitability and technical feasibility and of personal environmental concern on the choice of conservation practices. Perceived Profitability was the most important factor influencing the use of conservation practices.The economic costs to a landholder of many conservation practices may exceed the on-farm benefits on a short-term and possibly long-term basis. The lack of immediate financial incentive in a dynamic farm economy may result in many land-* John Cay is an Associate Professor and Head,

Conjoint Analysis of Farmers’ Response to Conservation Incentives

“…In addition, implementation of BMPs may create positive externalities in the form of ecosystem services; if the costs of implementation are greater than the private benefits produced, farmers are privately funding public goods [26,27]. As public goods are non-rival and non-excludable, if farmers do not perceive enough potential harm to their farm systems to warrant adoption, they will be better off financially not implementing a BMP regardless of any existing environmental concerns; this lack of proactive adoption can result in the underproduction of ecosystem services and is detrimental to both the farm operation and society [26][27][28].…”

Economic Analysis of Climate Change Best Management Practices in Vermont Agriculture

“…Perceptions of risk and profitability are also important to BMP adoption as perceived risk is related to the perceived profitability of a BMP [57][58][59]. If there is a perceived risk that implementing a best management practice will threaten the viability of a farm, this will typically outweigh the perceived benefits of implementing that practice regardless of environmental awareness and other factors [57].…”

“…Therefore, we recommend that local Extension systems incorporate the costs and implementation of CCBMPs into online educational materials and workshops to provide the necessary information to potential practice adopters and generally maximize adoption. Understanding these specifically defined costs will help alleviate farmer perceptions of unknown risks and profitability, two vital barriers to BMP adoption [57][58][59].…”

“…If there is a perceived risk that implementing a best management practice will threaten the viability of a farm, this will typically outweigh the perceived benefits of implementing that practice regardless of environmental awareness and other factors [57]. Understanding the costs of CCBMPs is necessary given the importance financial considerations play in their adoption, as well as the reality that a majority of farmers have net negative incomes [60,61].…”

Exploring environmental perspectives in lowland agriculture: A Q methodology study in East Anglia, UK

“…In particular, there is concern to achieve those public benefits that are demanded from land managers (in terms of environmental amenity provision) at minimum cost. From a rational choice perspective, this problem is one of determining the appropriate level and combination of incentives and regulations to achieve any given level of benefits (Brotherton, 1989, Roberts et al, 1996and Cary and Wilkinson, 1997.…”