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Abstract
Multifunctional agriculture is particularly fundamental to some working lands conservation
policies and programs, such as the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP),
Conservation Security Program (CSP) and Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP). Farmers
can also be engaged in providing recreational and agri-tourism services such as hunting, fishing,
bird-watching, farm tours, petting zoos and hospitality services. Using the Agricultural Resource
Management Survey (ARMS) we analyze factors associated with participation in conservation,
recreation and agri-tourism activities as a function of farm structure, farm financial measures,
production practices, and socio-demographic characteristics of the farm operator. To estimate the
functional relationships we estimate a binary logistic model where the dependent variable takes a
value equal to one if the farm operator reports in the ARMS survey participation in conservation
programs, recreation or agritourism. Results show that the level of farm operator education and
cultural practices that use conservation technical assistance are significant at the 0.01 and 0.10
levels, respectively, in explaining participation. Farm financial characteristics were not
significant. Location (state where operator is located) is also not significant.