| Summary: | In recent years, the US livestock industries have undergone structural changes that have led to larger livestock operations with their associated environmental problems. Louisiana is within one of the major cow-calf production areas in the US (the Southeast). Louisiana accounts for about 1.72% of the total US cattle operations. In an attempt to control degradation of the environment, conservation programs have been put in place, one of which is the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The EQIP was established in the 1996 Farm Bill, involving the payment of government subsidies to landowners willing to implement specific cost-intensive conservation practices. The aim of this study is to determine, using a sequential response model, the awareness of EQIP and subsequent adoption of best management practices (BMPs) by cattle farmers in Louisiana. Results indicate that of the 504 cattle farmers who completed the survey questionnaire, the probability of a farmer having no knowledge of EQIP (EQIP0) is 0.481; the probability of a farmer having knowledge of EQIP but not applying to the program (EQIP1) is 0.298; the probability of a farmer having knowledge of EQIP, applying to the program, but not receiving payment (EQIP2) is 0.152; the probability of a farmer having knowledge of EQIP, applying to the program, receiving payment, and not canceling the program later (EQIP3) is 0.003; and the probability of a farmer having knowledge of EQIP, applying to the program, receiving payment, and canceling the program later (EQIP4) is 0.066. Variables used in the analysis that influenced the awareness of EQIP and the subsequent adoption of BMPs were the number of times a farmer met with NRCS and/or extension agents in the year 2002, whether the farmers land had been declared highly erodible by NRCS, whether a stream flowed through or close to the farm, whether the farmer was diversified, the size of the cattle operation, and the percentage of household income coming from beef production.
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