Marginality Principle - Principles of Sustainable Soil Management in Agroecosystems - page 44

on wheat and corn profitability, while soil conservation BMPs showed no significant
impact on farm profitability.
Smith et al. (2007) found that a high proportion of Kansas producers were aware
of federal programs (97% CRP, 80.5% Environmental Quality Incentives Program
[EQIP], and 63.2% Conservation Stewardship Program [CSP]) but had a much lower
participation rate (45% CRP, 31% EQIP). Further, they report that 98% of produc-
ers use one or more BMPs in farming, but only 36% use four or more on their farm.
Smith et al. (2007) offer these observations: (1) Each farmer's adoption decision is a
complex mix of attitudes and perceptions, farm operation characteristics, and exter-
nal policy and economic forces, and (2) innovations to simplify or reduce producer
time to enroll in federal programs would be a beneficial investment. A 2006 report to
US senate (US GAO 2006) supports their second point, concluding that producers'
main reasons for not participating in USDA conservation programs are federal gov-
ernment regulations and paperwork and concern that participation would constrain
future production flexibility and decisions.
A meta-analysis by Prokopy et al. (2008) of 55 studies reports that there are no
factors that consistently determine farmer BMP adoption of conservation technolo-
gies. However, they do find, in support of affect theories, that a number of social
variables are significant: access to information, awareness, and social networks are
more likely to have a positive rather than a negative relationship to BMP adoption
(Prokopy et al. 2008). The synthesis results of Prokopy et al. (2008) are inconclusive
about demographic factors that consistently determine BMP adoption but identify
the following trends:
1. Capital and income are more positive than negative to BMP adoption, but
most studies show insignificant findings for capital; income is never signifi-
cant (either positive or negative).
2. Age has a negative relationship with adoption more often than positive.
There is some evidence that the type of BMP matters. It is never significant
for nutrient or water management.
3. Labor has a more positive than negative influence on adoption rates of most
BMPs.
4. Diverse farms are more likely to adopt BMPS.
5. Networking (agency, business, and peer) is positive overall for BMPs; there
are three negative studies associated with livestock BMP and landscape and
soil management.
6. There is a positive attitude toward environment and always positive BMP
adoption.
7. There is a predominantly positive relationship among attitude toward risk,
profitability of practice, receiving adoption payments, and heritage. Risk
variables lose significance at the 0.01 level, so it may not be a consistent
driver of adoption.
8. Increases in environment awareness and knowledge are associated with an
increase in adoption rates in general.
9. Farm characteristics. Farm location near a river was more often negatively
associated with adoption. Animal farms are more likely to have a negative