Abstract
This article identifies irrigated row-crop farmer factors associated with the adoption of water-conserving practices. The analysis is performed on data from a survey of irrigators in Mississippi. Regression results show that the amount of irrigated area, years of education, perception of a groundwater problem, and participation in conservation programs are positively associated with practice adoption; while number of years farming, growing rice, and pumping cost are negatively associated with adoption. However, not all factors are statistically significant for all practices. Survey results indicate that only a third of growers are aware of groundwater problems at the farm or state level; and this lack of awareness is related to whether farmers noticed a change in the depth to water distance in their irrigation wells. This evidence is consistent with a report to Congress from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that recommends policies promoting the use of: (1) more efficient irrigation technology and practices and (2) precision agriculture technologies, such as soil moisture sensors and irrigation automation.
Highlights
The Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer (MRVAA) sustains irrigated agriculture in the Mississippi Delta
Promoting the adoption of water conservation practices in irrigated agriculture has been a principal initiative to slow down the decline of the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer (MRVAA)
Delta Joint Water Management District require the use of a minimum number of these practices to issue groundwater well drilling and use permits in the area
Summary
The Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer (MRVAA) sustains irrigated agriculture in the Mississippi Delta. A shortage of irrigation water would be a critical challenge to agricultural production in the region [4]. To address this threat, researchers, regulators, and conservation agencies promote the adoption of water-conserving practices in irrigated agriculture. Profitable practices are not universally adopted; which suggests there are other factors related to the farmers and their ecosystem that influence their choice of agricultural practices. This implies that the combination of practices adopted and the factors that influence their adoption vary by practice and location [4].
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