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Demographic and Management Factors Affecting the Adoption and Perceived Yield Benefit of Winter Cover Crops in the Southeast

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 January 2015

Jason S. Bergtold ,
Patricia A. Duffy ,
Diane Hite  and
Randy L. Raper
Jason S. Bergtold
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
Patricia A. Duffy
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
Diane Hite
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
Randy L. Raper
Affiliation:
Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Auburn, AL
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Abstract

The inclusion of cover crops in cropping systems brings direct and indirect costs and benefits. Farmers will adopt and utilize cover crops as long as the perceived benefit of using them is positive. This paper examines the demographic and management factors affecting the adoption and perceived benefit (in terms of improved crop yield) of using winter annual cover crops. A double selectivity model of cover crop adoption and perceived yield gain was estimated using survey data of Alabama farmers examining cover crop use and management. Results may help in understanding factors shaping farmers' perceptions, adoption, and retention of cover crops.

Keywords

adoptionconservationcover cropsdouble selectivity modelperceived yield gaintobit modelQ12Q15Q55
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics , Volume 44 , Issue 1 , February 2012 , pp. 99 - 116
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 2002

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