Does Race Matter in Landowners' Participation in Conservation Incentive Programs?

ABSTRACT

This study investigated and compared the participation behavior of white and minority small landowners in Alabama in eight conservation incentive programs. Using nonparametric tests and logit modeling, we found both similarities and differences in participation behavior between these two landowner groups. Both white and minority landowners tended not to participate in conservation incentive programs, and were equally likely to participate in the overall programs, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Stewardship Incentives Program (SIP), and Forestry Incentives Program (FIP). White landowners, however, were enrolled in the CRP longer and signed up more acres in the CRP and FIP than minorities. Moreover, minorities were more likely to be dissatisfied with program participation and to be unable to afford the cost share. The determinants for program participation vary with program and racial/ethnic background. We suggest new approaches to encouraging program participation by small landowners in general and by minority landowners in particular.

Keywords:

• conservation incentive programs
• logit regression
• mail survey
• racial and ethnic background
• small landowners

Notes

Note. The census data were derived from USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (1999). Minorities include all nonwhite racial and ethnic groups. The figures for education and annual farming income are index values as shown in Table 3. For education, 3 = some college; and for annual farming income, 3 = $2500–$4999.

Note. Standard errors in parentheses.

^a Significant at .01.

^b Significant at .05.

Note. Standard errors in parentheses.

^a Significant at .01.

^b Significant at .05.

^c Significant at .10.

While Alabama is an appropriate site for this study, other states may be different. Similar studies in other states can further illuminate the similarities and differences in participation in conservation incentive programs among racial and ethnic groups.

We acknowledge the difficulties presented by the low response rate from our survey, although all reasonable measures were taken to avoid it. Further efforts are needed to address the challenge of low response rates in surveys of small and minority landowners. It may be possible to increase response rates by collaborating with nongovernmental and independent institutions in implementing surveys; also, in-person interviews, although expensive, may also be more effective.