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

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and applied economics Vol. 40; no. 1; pp. 203 - 222
• Main Authors: Paudel, Krishna P., Gauthier, Wayne M., Westra, John V., Hall, Larry M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.04.2008
• Subjects: Agriculture; animal manure management; Best management practices; consumer economics; Costs; dairy cattle; dairy farm management; dairy farming; Dairy farms; Dairy industry; Decision making; econometric models; Economic activity; economic costs; economic incentives; Environmental impact; environmental protection; Environmental quality; Externality; farm operators; Farmers; livestock production; logit analysis; Manures; Milk; Nitrogen; Profitability; Profits; regression analysis; social impact; Water quality; willingness to pay; Louisiana; cost-share; manure; steps in BMP adoption; Q25; Q16; bootstrap; best management practices; Q53
• ISSN: 1074-0708; 2056-7405; 1074-0708
• DOI: 10.1017/S1074070800023555

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.