Willingness to switch to green irrigation energy: A case study of farmers in the lower great plains of the United States
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study evaluated the characteristics of farmers that influenced their willingness to switch to green irrigation energy to reduce CO 2 emissions using primary data on 105 irrigators operating in the lower U.S. Great Plains. It also sought to determine the effect of their switch on their CO 2 emissions. The farmers used electricity, natural gas, diesel, and propane as their irrigation energy, and the proposed green energy was defined to produce zero CO 2 and included on-farm generated wind and solar energy or grid electricity not generated with fossil feedstock. The study found that younger farmers with fewer irrigated acreage, a positive perspective about green energy, about 20-30 years’ experience, and lower irrigation energy costs were the most likely to switch. Using the Second-Generation p-Value approach, we were able to show that the data did support the alternative hypotheses and produced very low false discovery rates. The study showed CO 2 emission savings of about three-quarters of current total emissions if all 75% irrigators who indicated a willingness to switch actually do switch to green energy. The inferential power of a case study is limited. Therefore, it is suggested that given the importance of these findings, a future study based on a representative sample be conducted to test these results and providing more confident direction to policymakers as they continue to find ways to help agriculture reduce its carbon footprint.
Source: Energy Nexus
Institutions: Kansas State University, University of Kansas
Language: English
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,200
Funder: National Science Foundation
OpenAlex ID: W4414475588