Masters Theses

Date of Award

8-1998

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Agricultural Economics

Major Professor

James A. Larson

Committee Members

Roland Roberts, Darrell Mundy

Abstract

In the past, there has been little research done to determine the factors that influence farmers' decisions on participating in or paying for a boll weevil eradication program. The objectives of this study were 1) to determine and analyze factors influencing cotton farmers' willingness to participate in a boll weevil eradication program in West Tennessee and 2) to identify and analyze factors influencing cotton farmers' willingness to pay for a boll weevil eradication program.

Data reported by farmers in a 1997 mail survey were used to evaluate farmers' willingness to participate in and pay for a boll weevil eradication program. The survey was conducted to provide information for an economic study of the boll weevil eradication program (BWEP) in Tennessee. Information collected from producers who participated in the survey included the following; (1) cotton production and insect control practices for the 1994, 1995, and 1996 growing seasons; (2) personal characteristics of the principal operator including socioeconomic and demographic characteristics; (3) farm financial characteristics including taxable income; (4) sources of information used by the decision maker to make choices about the BWEP after considering the costs and benefits; and (5) decision maker attitudes about the BWEP. Because the survey was administered immediately after the February 1997 BWEP referendum for Region I, producers who were eligible to vote were asked to indicate how they voted. Producers were also asked to indicate the maximum amount, on a per acre basis, they would be willing to pay for an entire boll weevil eradication program that lasts 5 to 7 years.

A logit model was used to determine the factors that influence West Tennessee farmers' willingness to participate in a boll weevil eradication program. Producer age, boll weevil population for 1995, and eradication program education meetings were significant and positive in determining participation. Boll weevil population for 1996 was significant and negative. The negative sign may be attributed to low boll weevil populations in 1996. The importance of information from the media also had a significant, negative influence on willingness to participate. Boll weevil eradication education programs had the most significant influence on a farmer's willingness to participate in the program.

An ordinary least squares regression model was used to determine the factors that influence West Tennessee farmers' willingness to pay for the boll weevil eradication program. Producer experience growing cotton, cost of boll weevil control, and producer's attitude about damage from boll weevils and insecticide usage after the eradication program were significant explanatory variables and had a positive influence on farmers' willingness to pay for the program. Producer age was significant and negative. The most significant variable that influenced willingness to pay for the boll weevil eradication program was the age of the producer.

Despite a small sample of 26 observations used in the willingness to participate study and 79 observations used in the willingness to pay study, both contain significant information that would prove helpful to cotton farmers, the extension service, the Tennessee Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation, Inc., and other states interested in beginning a boll weevil eradication program. Cotton farmers in northwestern Tennessee that have not yet voted on the BWEP may be able to use these studies to determine their willingness to participate in or pay for the program. These studies may help the extension service to provide helpful information to farmers on the BWEP. Also, other states may use this information to evaluate the likelihood of implementing a boll weevil eradication program in their area.

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