WQIP: An assessment of its chances for acceptance by farmers

During the debate surrounding the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 and in the subsequent report of the conference committee, the Water Quality Incentives Program (WQIP) was held as the centerpiece of the 1990 farm bill\u27s nonpoint source reduction mandate. Using data collected from surveys of 770 farmers with land critical for surface or groundwater quality located in ten diverse counties in the Cornbelt, results of logistic regression of factors influencing farmers\u27 willingness to participate in the WQIP are presented. Farmer interest in the WQIP is limited and is significantly influenced by farmers\u27 attitudes toward governmental involvement with wetland regulation, education, tenure status, contact with Natural Resources Conservation Service, and percentage of farm sales derived from specialty crops. The results raise doubts as to whether the WQIP can serve as the “centerpiece” of the USDA\u27s nonpoint source pollution control efforts