A preliminary analysis of Texas ranchers' willingness to participate in a brush control cost-sharing program to improve off-site water yields Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Brush cover of 30% is estimated to be economically optimal for ranches on the Edwards Plateau, Texas. This contrasts with a regional objective to increase off-site water yield, which is maximized if brush cover is removed. Survey research was conducted to assess ranchers willingness to enter a 10-year easement contract to clear brush to 3%, for a fixed cost-share payment to offset their opportunity costs of participation. Sixty-six percent of the 119 ranchers surveyed were willing to enroll. Ranch size, income from livestock and deer-hunting enterprises, and perceptions about brush control costs were important explanatory variables in statistical analysis using probit and Cragg models. 2001 Elsevier Science B.V.

published proceedings

  • ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS

author list (cited authors)

  • Thurow, A. P., Conner, J. R., Thurow, T. L., & Garriga, M. D.

citation count

  • 10

complete list of authors

  • Thurow, AP||Conner, JR||Thurow, TL||Garriga, MD

publication date

  • April 2001