Adoption of riparian forest buffers on private lands in Nebraska, USA

• Published in: Small-scale forest economics, management and policy management and policy, 2005-06, Vol.4 (2), p.185-203
• Main Authors: Skelton, Peter, Josiah, Scott J, King, James W, Brandle, James R, Helmers, Glen A, Francis, Charles A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural land; Agricultural runoff; Agrochemicals; Buffers; Conservation; Conservation practices; Farming; Land conservation; Landowners; Multivariate analysis; Pesticides; Private lands; Riparian buffers; Riparian forests; Watersheds
• ISSN: 1447-1825; 1873-7617; 1447-1825; 1873-7854
• DOI: 10.1007/s11842-005-0012-y

Pesticide and nutrient runoff from agricultural fields is a socio-environmental problem in the Midwestern United States. Riparian forest buffers (RFBs) are a proven conservation practice that effectively manage this problem, though adoption rates are low. A mail survey was conducted to determine differences between adopter and nonadopter characteristics and attitudes with regard to the use of RFBs. Data were collected from 48 RFB adopters and 261 RFB nonadopters in two Nebraska watersheds. Inferential and multivariate statistics were used to identify differences between adopter status and producer status groups. About half (50.8%) the respondents were nonproducers. Nonproducers are agricultural landowners not farming that make decisions about whether to install conservation practices on their land. Among the adopter respondents, non-farming agricultural landowners (nonproducers, n=25) were as likely to adopt RFBs as producers (n=23). Adopters were more informed about RFBs and willing to accept government payments. Receiving technical and financial assistance was a major key to adoption. The research has identified important opportunities for more effective and targeted RFB extension education programming.