Evaluating the Relationship between Fruit and Vegetable Growers Use of Plastic Biodegradable Mulches, and Environmental Stewardship and Labor Savings: The Case of Tennessee Fruit and Vegetable Farmers

Margarita Velandia, Roderick Rejesus, Christopher Clark, Karen DeLong, Annette Wszelaki, Susan Schexnayder and Kimberly Jensen
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Margarita Velandia: Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, University of Tennessee, 2621 Morgan cir. Morgan Hall, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
Annette Wszelaki: Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, 2505 EJ Chapman dr., 112 Plant Biotech Building, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
Susan Schexnayder: Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries, University of Tennessee, 2431 Joe Johnson Dr., 274 Ellington Plant Sciences Building, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
Kimberly Jensen: Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, University of Tennessee, 2621 Morgan cir. Morgan Hall, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 5, 1-16

Abstract: The substitution of polyethylene (PE) mulch for plastic biodegradable mulches (BDMs) in fruit and vegetable production has the potential to reduce the negative environmental impacts associated with PE mulch use, and the overall sustainability of fruit and vegetable production. A better understanding of the factors associated with BDM use could inform efforts to promote the use of BDMs. The main goal of this study is to assess the correlation between the use of BDMs among fruit and vegetable farmers, and labor savings and environmental stewardship. Using data from a Tennessee fruit and vegetable farmer survey and probit regressions, this study evaluates the correlation between the use of BDMs, and the labor savings associated with the use of BDMs and farmer environmental stewardship, after controlling for farmer and farmer business characteristics. Results suggest that farm size, farmer environmental stewardship, and labor savings from BDM use are strongly correlated with the use of BDMs among Tennessee fruit and vegetable growers, specifically among those farmers who are more likely to have previous experience using PE mulch.

Keywords: plastic biodegradable mulches; Tennessee producer survey; probit regressions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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