Variation in intensity of adoption of alternative tillage practices by farmers: Influence of crop rotation, site-specific and risk factors

The paper assesses the intensity of adoption of alternative tillage practices at the farm level by crop. We define intensity of adoption as the percentage of cropland for a specific crop devoted to a specific tillage practice. Tillage practices examined include no-tillage, conservation tillage, and historical tillage practices. We examined if tillage decisions are dependent on crop rotation choices and how this influences the intensity of adoption. We explore the influence of geographical and biophysical factors, such as soil type, local weather, and geographical location on adoption intensity. Other factors explored include risk aversion, crop insurance, farmer perceptions, and farm characteristics. We estimate a series of Tobit regression models using primary survey data of 364 farmers in the US Midwestern state of Kansas. We find intensity of adoption of no-tillage and conservation tillage are dependent on crop rotational choices, especially for rotations with wheat. Intensity of adoption is influenced by temperature, soil characteristics, and farmer perceptions. Insurance plays a sizable role in shaping tillage decisions, increasing the intensity of adoption of alternative tillage practices. Findings highlight other factors influencing the intensity of adoption at the crop-farm level and elucidating crop-specific factors shape adoption, as well. Findings can help shape extension education about factors influencing and effects from switching tillage practices between crops, as well as messaging for promotion of conservation tillage practices. Findings can help inform policy about the connection between no-till and conservation tillage adoption and crop insurance, and the role it plays in promoting conservation through federal crop insurance programs.