FACTORS AFFECTING PEANUT PRODUCER ADOPTION OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

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Abstract

Despite evidence of Georgia peanut producer and environmental benefits associated with integrated pest management (IPM), producer adoption remains low. The analysis reported in this paper examines attributes associated with producers’ decisions to adopt IPM practices. The logit analysis includes attributes from four categories: producer characteristics, farm structure, management practices, and institutional factors. Variables from three of the four categories were significantly associated with adoption decisions. The institutional variable, receipt of Extension materials, had the greatest association with adoption decisions. The results suggest that shifts in extension IPM education programs to non‐traditional audiences and the development of educational programs targeted to specific agricultural activities and producer characteristics may increase adoption.