Conservation Adoption Among Owners and Tenant Farmers in the Southern United States

• Main Authors: Naveen Adusumilli, Hua Wang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-03-01
• Series: Agriculture
• Subjects: conservation; voluntary adoption; conservation incentives; policy; outreach; tenant
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/9/3/53

This study investigates owner and tenant characteristics and differences between these two groups in their participation in federal conservation initiatives. Bivariate probit model analysis, based on a 2016–2017 Louisiana row-crop producer’s survey show that owners, relative to tenant farmers, are more likely to adopt conservation in early years of ownership. The results emphasize the need for mechanisms for tenants in short-term contracts to invest in long-term conservation. Moreover, conservation initiatives should be tailored, as tenant farmers are increasingly farming more land and policies should carefully account for this growing group of farmers.