Peers and the choice of irrigation practices in the Arkansas Delta

Abstract

AbstractThere are a range of demographic, climatic, and economic factors that influence the use of irrigation practices, along with the effect of peers and Extension agents on agricultural technologies. This research was conducted to determine how a peer's use of multiple irrigation practices influences the use of common irrigation practices in the Delta region of Arkansas. Using data from a producer survey conducted by telephone in 2015, we identify the determinants of the use and the share of an irrigated farm with five common irrigation practices in the Arkansas Delta. The role of peers for irrigation practice use depends on where a farmer is and the current farm practices in the region. A finding of the own practice peer effect is that a producer with a peer that uses flow meters is 29% more likely to use flow meters themselves. A cross practice peer effect we observe is that a producer with a peer that uses scientific scheduling is 30% less likely to use center pivot.