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Using Former Farmland for Biomass Crops: Massachusetts Landowner Motivations and Willingness to Plant

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2016

David Timmons
David Timmons*
Affiliation:
Economics Department at University of Massachusetts Boston
*
Correspondence: David Timmons ▪ Economics Department ▪ University of Massachusetts Boston ▪ 100 Morrissey Boulevard ▪ Boston MA 02125-3393 ▪ Phone 617.287.6945 ▪ Emaildavid.timmons@umb.edu.
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Abstract

Producing biomass energy requires extensive land resources. In western Massachusetts, where almost 90 percent of former farmland is no longer in commercial use, we study factors that motivate landowners to grow biomass energy crops. A geographic information system model identifies a landowner population, and a contingent valuation survey reveals payments landowners are willing to accept (WTA) for growing biomass crops. The median WTA estimate is $321 per hectare per year, which is high compared to regional land rental rates. Nonpecuniary factors appear to be as important in landowner acceptance as profit opportunities, especially for nonfarmer landowners.

Keywords

abandoned farmlandbiomass energy cropscontingent valuationwillingness to accept
Type
Research Article
Information
Agricultural and Resource Economics Review , Volume 43 , Issue 3 , December 2014 , pp. 419 - 437
Copyright
Copyright © 2014 Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association 

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