Producer Response to a Subsidized Agricultural Water Conservation Loan Program

Abstract

Texas voters approved the sale of bonds to finance low interest agricultural loans for purchasing water conservation equipment. However, results from a pilot program indicated that the low interest loan program had been used only to a limited extent. Qualitative choice modeling was used to identify factors that influenced producer participation. Results indicate that educating producers about water use efficiency and minimizing water district administrative procedures would enhance the producer participation in the low interest loan program.