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Biases in Nutrient Management Planning

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  • Chad Lawley
  • Erik Lichtenberg
  • Doug Parker

Abstract

Nutrient management planning is seen as a means of improving efficiency and reducing environmental problems, however, these gains may not be realized if plans overstate fertilizer requirements. Using data from a survey of Maryland farmers, we find that nutrient management planning was adopted more frequently by larger operations raising grain or cattle, but not by those on more environmentally sensitive land. Independent consultants and fertilizer dealers were more likely to recommend increases in fertilizer use, consistent with fears about bias. Farmers preparing their own plans were more likely to recommend decreases in fertilizer use, suggesting the presence of hidden information.

Suggested Citation

  • Chad Lawley & Erik Lichtenberg & Doug Parker, 2009. "Biases in Nutrient Management Planning," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 85(1), pages 186-200.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:landec:v:85:y:2009:i:1:p:186-200
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Williamson, James M., 2010. "Does Information Matter? Assessing the Role of Information and Prices in the Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Decision," 2010 Annual Meeting, July 25-27, 2010, Denver, Colorado 60892, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    2. Daxini, Amar & Ryan, Mary & O’Donoghue, Cathal & Barnes, Andrew P., 2019. "Understanding farmers’ intentions to follow a nutrient management plan using the theory of planned behaviour," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 428-437.
    3. Andarge, Tihitina & Lichtenberg, Erik, 2018. "Regulated Firm Strategy under Uncertainty about Regulatory Status," 2018 Annual Meeting, August 5-7, Washington, D.C. 274420, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    4. Stacy Sneeringer & Nigel Key & Shirley Pon, 2018. "Do Nutrient Management Plans Actually Manage Nutrients? Evidence from a Nationally‐Representative Survey of Hog Producers," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 40(4), pages 632-652, December.
    5. Williamson, James M., 2011. "The Role of Information and Prices in the Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Decision: New Evidence from the Agricultural Resource Management Survey," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 36(3), pages 1-21.
    6. Agarwal, Sandip Kumar, 2017. "Subjective beliefs and decision making under uncertainty in the field," ISU General Staff Papers 201701010800006248, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    7. Sneeringer, Stacy & Pon, Shirley, 2016. "Do nutrient management plans actually manage nutrients? Evidence from a nationally-representative survey of hog producers," 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts 235681, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    8. Tihitina Andarge & Erik Lichtenberg, 2020. "Regulatory compliance under enforcement gaps," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 57(3), pages 181-202, June.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q18 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Policy; Food Policy; Animal Welfare Policy

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