Mississippi Delta MSEA Volume 3, Issue 1, Page 3, First Semester 1997

REPORTER

Volume 3, Issue 1, Page 3, First Semester 1997

Since funding for the economics component was approved in July of 1996, emphasis has been placed on collecting 1996 information on: a) acreages of crops planted; b) cultural practices being utilized, including timing and amounts of fertilizer and chemical applications; c) structural devices implemented; and d) yield data for the crops grown. This information has been collected for producers in Thighman, Beasley, and Deep Hollow Lake watersheds. Information for eight producers in these watersheds is being evaluated with initial emphasis being placed on the development of budgets for each of the practices being employed. Comparable data for the 1997 crop year are being collected.

Additionally, development of economic and BMP adoption attitudinal questions are being developed for inclusion in the Farm Operator Survey (Mississippi Delta) that will be administered this summer. A draft of the survey instrument has been completed and is under review by a select group of farmers, county extension agents, researchers, and other individuals knowledgeable on agricultural activities in the Mississippi Delta. The instrument contains questions seeking information about farmers? attitudes and beliefs regarding environmental and water quality issues, farming practices (e.g., number of acres of various crops in production and water quality practices), economic factors of the farm operation, and sources of information about farming practices.

A list of 2,534 Mississippi Delta farmers has been complied from information obtained from the 11 county extension offices. A random sample of farmers has been selected and actual surveying will begin around June 23. The survey is scheduled to be completed by the end of the summer.

Dr. Lynn Reinschmiedt
Economist
Agricultural Economics
BOX 9755
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Phone: 601 325-2750
Fax: 601-325-8777
Email: rein@agecon.msstate.edu

Dr. Duane Gill
Associate Sociologist
Sociology, Anthropology & Social Wk
BOX C
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Phone: 601 325-2498
Fax: 601 325-4564
Email: gill@soc.msstate.edu