Determining Farmers’ Preferences for a Working Wetlands Program

Abstract

Wetlands play important role in the ecosystem and are a link between land and water. This study investigates a voluntary working wetlands pilot program focusing on small, temporary and seasonal wetlands present on croplands. The program compensates farmers for the positive externality provided by maintaining wetlands on their land. The objective of the study is to determine farmer preferences for a program introduced in the Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota and with alternative attributes, as well as, their perceptions and attitudes towards other conservation programs and practices. The population is limited to program participants. Results from a choice experiment designed to consider hypothetical program attributes showed increase in program length, payment and flexibility in payment, increases probability of enrollment. Farmers prefer programs that are less restrictive especially with requirements for conservation farming examined in the study. They also require a relatively high financial incentive to participate in the program