Great Plains Agroforestry: Evaluation of Bioenergy Feedstock and Carbon Sequestration as Potential Long-term Revenue Streams to Diversify Landowner Income

Great Plains Agroforestry: Evaluation of Bioenergy Feedstock and Carbon Sequestration as Potential Long-term Revenue Streams to Diversify Landowner Income

Summary

Year one of this project focused on utilizing socioeconomic metrics designed to capture impacts on farmer interest in the production of bioenergy feedstocks within the Great Plains region, as well as to capture relevant information to inform spatial components and the site selection for biophysical field research scheduled to occur in years two and three. The focus group series scheduled for year one will be completed in April, 2014. The operator survey originally scheduled to begin in year two was designed at the end of 2013 and data collection began January 20. This component is scheduled to be completed in the first week of March 2014. Field-level financial spreadsheets have been framed for short-rotation woody systems and are in the process of being calibrated using state-level data for Great Plains states. State specific break-even biomass prices and yields will be determined with these tools.

Objectives/Performance Targets

1) Focus Groups on Land Use. Conduct one focus group in each state within the study region (ND, SD, NE, and KS) to inform farmer/rancher survey, site selection for subsequent biophysical component, and to add to the richness of the sociological examination by exploring nuances in farmer interest in establishing trees for biomass production on marginal agricultural land.

2) Financial Analysis of Potential Profitability. Begin development of field-level financial assessment tools.

Accomplishments/Milestones

1) Focus Groups on Land Use. Focus groups have been completed in Topeka, Kansas and Lincoln, Nebraska, and are scheduled to occur in late March and early April in Pierre and Rapid City, South Dakota and Langdon, North Dakota. Participants were selected through nominations from local and state resource professionals or agricultural NGOs, as well as through snowball sampling. Eligible participants included livestock producers with grazing animals on pastureland as well as crop producers responsible for on-farm decision-making. Each focus group is roughly two hours long with the location chosen to best accommodate individuals who had expressed interest. Information sought within focus groups include:

• Agricultural producer definition of marginal agricultural land
• Management decision-making regarding marginal land
• Knowledge of agroforestry practices
• Knowledge regarding growing trees for biomass production
• Level of interest in participating in a market for woody biomass
• Information needed to understand how to participate in a market for woody biomass
• Perceived concerns about biomass (woody or other) as a renewable fuel
• Degree of familiarity with farmland management designed for increased carbon storage as well as sequestration.

 For the two focus groups completed, the sessions were recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were then coded into thematic categories using NVivo 10 by two researchers, with repeat coding on themes with a kappa coefficient > 0.40, denoting poor inter-rater reliability. Themes with an initially low kappa coefficient were either eliminated as thematic categories, absorbed into related themes, or were further defined for both coders with subsequent recoding into the theme. Findings will be developed from thematic patterns present across the data from all focus groups.

2) Survey of Regional Operator Perceptions and Adoption Potential. Originally scheduled to begin in year two, data collection for a region-wide representative phone survey of US Great Plains farmers and ranchers managing marginal land will be completed by the first week of March 2014. Our survey tool was developed in collaboration with Survey and Behavioral Research Services (SBRS), a research service provider and division of the Iowa State University Statistical Laboratory. This project has additionally contracted SBRS to implement the phone survey. SBRS compiled the necessary sampling frame and drew the initial sample (N=1500) of agricultural producers within the four-state region from which we expect to complete at least 400 phone interviews with current farm and ranch operators. This survey is designed to gauge perceived benefits, concerns, and income thresholds for establishment of agroforestry systems. The survey results will be analyzed using multinomial logistic regression to assess indicators of farmer and rancher interest in establishing, harvesting, and marketing trees for biomass production. Findings will address key variables affecting interest relating to farm attributes, individual farmer characteristics, risk orientation, knowledge, and attitudes.

3) Financial Analysis of Potential Profitability.  Break-even price/yield assessment in progress.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Hand, A., & Tyndall, J., Knoot T. (2011, August). Agroforestry in the U.S. Great Plains: Exploring opportunities for bioenergy on marginal farm land. Poster presented at the International Conference on Agricultural Biodiversity and Sustainability, Sapporo, Japan.

Submitted (pending notification of acceptance):

Hand, A. & Tyndall, J. (2013, June). US Great Plains Agroforestry: Examining Agricultural Producer Interest in Woody Systems for Bioenergy Feedstock Production. Proposed presentation at the International Symposium on Society and Resource Management, Hannover, Germany.

Collaborators: