Corn production uses over 25 percent of the Nations cropland and more than 40 percent of the commercial fertilizer applied to crops. Thus, corn farmers choices of soil, nutrient and water management systems can have a major impact not only on their own profitability, but also on the environment. If sound economic and environmental choices are to be encouraged, it may help to assess relationships between operator and farm characteristics and the adoption of management techniques by corn farmers. Data from the 1996 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) of U.S. corn farms and producers are analyzed for this purpose, supplemented by a literature survey on factors that influence corn farm management choices. Relationships were found between certain socio-economic variables, including farmer age and education and size of the operation, and implementation of management practices. This is the first study to relate corn farm management choices, on a national scale, to so broad a set of characteristics.
Publications
Soil, Nutrient, and Water Managment Systems Used in U.S. Corn Production
Publication Name
ERS Agricultural Information Bulletin
Downloadable Documents
Links
Author
Lee A. Christensen
Publisher
Washington, DC: USDA Economic Research Service
Page Numbers
iv, 50
Publication Date
April 01, 2002
Publication Type
Reports and Guides
State
National
Keywords
Environmental Issues