Student surveys farmers about environmental issues
March 14, 2008Contact Information:
Laura Sossamon, Department of Agricultural Economics and AgriBusiness
lsossam@uark.edu
Dr. Eric Wailes, Professor of Agricultural Economics and AgriBusiness
479-575-2278 / ewailes@uark.edu
Editors -- the survey described in this release can be found on the Web:
http://agribus.uark.edu/environment.htm
By Fred Miller, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
479-575-5647 / fmiller@uark.edu
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- A University of Arkansas student is conducting a survey to find out how northwest Arkansas farmers view environmental issues and their own roles as stewards of the environment.
Laura Sossamon, a senior agribusiness major in Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, is conducting the survey for her honors thesis research. Eric Wailes, the L.C. Carter Endowed Chair in the department of agricultural economics and agribusiness is her honors advisor.
Sossamon is working with Katrien Delaet, a graduate student at the University of Ghent, Belgium, who is conducting a similar survey among farmers in that country.
Their aim, in conducting their surveys simultaneously, is to be able to compare environmental attitudes and actions between farmers in the two cultures.
"We want to evaluate conservation practices through the eyes of farmers," Sossamon said. "Do they believe existing conservation practices are working? If not, what can be done to correct any problems?"
Sossamon's survey asks questions about the types of conservation practices farmers use, such as recycling, windmills for power or similar environmental actions. It also asks farmers to rate importance of environmental issues like global warming and water quality.
The survey can be found on the Web -- http://agribus.uark.edu/environment.htm --- and takes about 15 minutes to complete, Sossamon said.
"I would like this survey to be a means by which farmers' opinions can be heard about how they view conservation issues and practices, and themselves as environmental stewards," Sossamon said.