Beef cattle producers’ knowledge about and preferences for carbon contracts

• Carbon contracts have gained attention as a way to incentivize carbon-emissions reduction for the agricultural sector, particularly among beef-cattle producers. • Our study utilized data from a survey of 222 beef cattle producers in the southeastern United States to examine their knowledge, perceptions, and preferences regarding carbon contracts. • Survey respondents demonstrated a lack of accurate knowledge about carbon markets and contract specifications, with many overestimating the price of carbon. • Among the most common barriers to signing contracts were the cost of altering practices, the duration, and insufficient payments. • Further, our results indicated that producers require an additional $103.74/hectare ($42/acre) to accept a 15-year contract compared to a 5-year contract, and they prefer a fixed payment structure, requiring an additional $24.70/hectare ($10/acre) if the contract has a fluctuating price structure.