Cotton Producer Awareness and Participation in Cost-Sharing Programs for Precision Nutrient-Management Technology

Abstract

Factors influencing adoption of variable-rate nutrient management (VRM) and georeferenced precision soil sampling (PSS) for fertilizer management among cotton producers and the factors affecting awareness of and participation in cost-share programs encouraging the adoption of nutrient-management practices were analyzed using multivariate probit regression with sample selection. Data were collected from a fourteen-state cotton producer survey. Factors including farm size, operator age, and farm location were correlated with the adoption of VRM and PSS, awareness of cost-sharing programs, and program participation. The results may help agencies target farms with the specific attributes most likely to participate in cost-share programs.

Keywords

• best management practices
• cost sharing
• cotton
• multivariate probit with sample selection
• nutrient management