Empathy Conditioned Conservation: "Walking-in-the-Shoes-of-Others" as a Conservation Farmer

Since the destruction and despair caused by the dust bowl of the 1930’s, Americans and their government have taken a keen interest in natural resource conservation policy on agricultural land. The Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act of 1936 was the first farm bill to include provisions that provided payments to farmers willing to employ soil conservation measures (Cain and Lovejoy, 2004). While the main purpose of this bill was to provide financial support to impoverished farmers, the fact remains that natural resource conservation was starting to become an important issue for the American public. Over time, conservation titles in the farm bill have evolved into legislation that protects several resources, including surface water. Expenditures have also significantly increased. While giving monetary payments to individual producers engaging in conservation activities is ultimately a policy decision, the underlying assumption for these payments is one outlined in traditional microeconomic theory, which presumes producers are engaging in activities that will maximize profits. Since conservation activities are not inherently profitable to the individual farmer, payments are provided under the presumption that the only way to increase conservation efforts is to increase profits. The environmental results from these payment schemes have been mixed. With this in mind, the USDA has begun funding research that examines the underlying factors that motivate producers to engage in conservation activities. As part of this new research, a collaboration of researchers from a group of Midwestern universities and government agencies recently engaged in a study of conservation behavior exhibited by producers located in the Blue River/Tuttle Creek Lake watershed of Nebraska and Kansas. Examination of this particular watershed was conducted because it currently provides drinking water to areas of northeast Kansas that are exhibiting rapid population expansion, such as Manhattan, Lawrence, and Kansas City. The Blue River/Tuttle Creek Lake watershed covers a large portion of southcentral and southeast Nebraska, as well as northeast Kansas. However, the use of natural resource assessment maps and empirical surface water quality data served to identify a critical four county area of nonpoint source runoff near the Nebraska-Kansas border that may have the largest impact on Tuttle Creek Lake. Particular attention was paid to the adoption of no-till/conservation tillage strategies in this area due to the sedimentation problem in the Lake. Data was obtained through the use of both focus groups and a mail survey. Overall, the survey response rate was 17.1 percent (639 survey responses; 498 surveys were used in the statistical analysis). Variables used to assess what motivates farmers to engage in conservation tillage technologies included income capacity; psychological tendencies for jointly pursuing self-interest and an empathy conditioned, shared other-interest; habitual tendencies; and preferences for control over farming operations. Results confirmed some old notions and added several new insights into what actually motivates being a conservation farmer. As economic (and policy) tradition suggests, we confirmed that income (i.e. financial capacity) was a significant variable. However, the models showed that a one thousand dollar increase in income only increased the odds of conservation tillage adoption by 0.4 to 0.6 percent (i.e. less than 1 percent). The first new insight suggests that farmers who recognize the water quality problem in the watershed and subsequently empathize with downstream water users (i.e. “walk-in-their-shoes”) are much more likely to engage in conservation tillage strategies. In fact, we show that farmers with even a small interest in identifying with downstream water users are anywhere from four to nine percent more likely to use conservation tillage technologies. Related to this empathy phenomenon, we also show that people other than the individual farmer can influence the decision to use conservation tillage. We found that the odds of conservation tillage adoption increase by nine percent for those farmers that think farm entities (i.e. lenders, chemical and seed suppliers, equipment dealers, etc) believe that they should use conservation tillage technologies. Intriguingly, though, we also found that the opinions of family members and downstream water users do not have a significant impact on the tillage decision. Another new insight points to how preferences for control impact the decision. Our results indicated that a farmer who believes the use of conservation tillage results in a loss of control over farming operations is less likely to use the technology. In fact, the odds of conservation tillage adoption decrease by about nine percent for those that perceive just a small loss of control over farm operations when using conservation tillage technologies. Finally, we find that a farmer’s habitual tendencies play a large role on the tillage adoption decision in the study area, with the odds of conservation tillage adoption increasing by nearly forty percent if a farmer has used conservation tillage in the past. While some would argue that “we always knew that current choice is affected by past (habit) choice,” the underpinnings are in fact quite new. Only in recent years have behavioral and neuroeconomics researchers documented that we run on automatic most of the time. So, it takes greater financial incentives to move a farmer to a conservation path (i.e. change habits) than it does to keep someone on that path. So what is the bottomline? We conclude that a single over-arching conservation policy based in traditional economics will not work. Rather, a behavioral economics framework gives a a more reasonable and rational basis for said policy. In particular, in addition to financial incentives, policy needs to recognize habits and control, and especially the role of empathy, i.e. “walking-in-the-shoes” of others: Emotions (reflected in empathy) play a much larger role in truly rational choice than traditional economic thinking acknowledges. Solving environmental quality problems depends on better understanding the human dimension of conservation decisions. Cain, Z., and S. Lovejoy. “History and Outlook for Farm Bill Conservation Programs.” Choices (2004): 37-42.Behavioral economics, Empathy. Dual motives, Dual Interests, Shared Other-interest, Self-interest, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

The Ursinus Weekly, May 10, 1965

Spring Greek weekend better than ever • Dr. Pradervand speaks June 6 • Patterson Field becomes South Sea island paradise: Spring Festival a success • Bishop\u27s Company presentation poses contemporary problems • Millers teach at War College • Summer session begins June 14 • Miss Blanche Schultz awarded national science grant • Variety theme of band concert • Editorial: The wreck room; IF weekend; Thanks • Herzog, the complex sufferer • Curtain Club production scores instant success • Letters to the editor • Women netters lose to Bryn Mawr • Tennis team upsets Wilkes • Softball team downs W. Chester • UC nine wins two: Routs PMC, splits with H\u27ford • Cindermen beaten twice: Nipped at Albright, swamped by L.V. • Greek gleanings • Words are inadequatehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1249/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, June 5, 1939

Harold D. Steward \u2707 is new Alumni Association head • Miss Stahr elected dean of women by directors • Social legislation provides theme of Dr. Landis\u27 commencement address • \u2739 class day initiates Cub and Key Society • Attractive layout, new features for \u2739 Ruby • Malcolm Derk reelected pres. of Athletic Club • Florence Benjamin \u2730 elected president of women\u27s club • Princess Pat presented on Friday and Saturday nights • Moyer\u27s .450 average is \u27tops\u27 for bear batsmen • Varsity athletic teams won fourteen contests of forty-seven this year • Freshman class brought many athletic prospects • Intramural program enjoyed successful year • Professor Sheeder reviews current issue of Lantern • RCA-Victor makes recordings of operetta on Friday night • Fourteen Ursinus delegates to attend Eaglesmere conferencehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1873/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, November 16, 1936

Bullet rally nets draw with bears • Dr. Guy S. Claire to talk at forum • I.N.A. judges commend Weekly for editorial work • Senior play cast chosen; production date is Dec. 5 • Football players and coaches entertained at open house • College holds dad\u27s day with 100 fathers present • Double-feature French movie presented in science building • Wm. Shakespeare\u27s Twelfth night presented by Hedgerow Players before large audience • Mrs. N. E. McClure honored at two affairs this week • Dr. Wilhelm Pauck discusses European situation at Y meeting • T.K.A. plans faculty debate; Boswell, Helffrich elected • Y.M. and Y.W. to sponsor world peace discussion • Physical education group holds initial get-together • Frosh finish good season with win over Farm School • Three way tie for first in dorm football league • Von Kleeck stars in two wins; Drexel bows 3-0, Moravian 11-0https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1912/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, January 9, 1939

Bedner to chairman Lorelei - when vampires pursue and ladies do too; Alspach picks Wilson for junior prom • Byron sisters will mystify here again • Women to enjoy dancers at meeting • Brotherhood, sisterhood dance is success Saturday night • Dean Stahr addresses vespers audience last night • Office surveys student body • Ruby sets January 15 subscription deadline • James Montgomery to speak in forum • Pinocchio, treasure isle played by marionettes • YM-YWCA shows British film Rhodes, the empire builder • AAUW hears Dr. Black discuss early theatre • Opera star to present recital and conduct voice clinic on campus Thursday, Friday • Dr. Dennis now proud father • Ouderkirk marriage date set • Fifth Alumni Journal appears over holidays • Miss Spangler attends convention at capitol • Congestion in gym relieved by changes • Fraternity rushing rules • Bear five downs Albright Friday in opener 36-26 • Temple matmen test Meklos cohorts Feb. 4 • Frosh beat Lions in prelim Friday, 35-17 • G\u27burg, F. & M. next foes of Hashagen men • Bill Power unable to attend Maxwell memorial banquet • Jing meets former associates at showing of baseball film • Marines hold gang to 12-0 in touch football playoff • Sheeder finds variety and cleverness in first issue of the Lantern; ten students contribute • McClure to deliver McCauley lectures at church convocation • College Lutherans elect Bagenstose group chairmanhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1857/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, November 23, 1936

Senior week-end to feature Top Hatters on Friday; The Dark Tower on Saturday • Ursinus to be represented at meeting of registrars • Hockey captaincy goes to M. Billett • Six seniors win place in annual • Second Ursinus forum season opened by Dr. Guy S. Claire; speaks on administocracy • Local branch of AAUW to be formed in future • Dr. Dockhorn addresses joint Y\u27s on world peace • Sophs choose U ring; initial order expected before Xmas • Administration heads address two groups during last week • Christmas issue of Lantern to feature prize winning articles • Y\u27s hold holiday vespers; Dr. B. H. Geise is speaker • Meeting of women\u27s club held in library Nov. 14 • Week-end party held by Phi Alpha Psi at Arcola • Dr. Price to speak before pre-med society tonight • Fourteen men sing swan song in PMC tussle Thursday • Kellett ends second year with unbeaten frosh team • Bear booters end bad season, score 4 goals to opponents\u27 39 • Hockeyites close season with win over Rosemont • Curtis leads dorm league; Brodbeck loses on forfeithttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1913/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, January 10, 1938

Alumna gets post on faculty as voice teacher • College to add drama course to roster in September • WSGA appoints Ruth Roth Lorelei chairman; Alspach names Wilson to head soph hop • Quarantine follows single scarlet fever case • Frosh elect Jacobs • MSC distributes manners pamphlets to men • Seventy couples truck at Greek letter ball • Seven from Ursinus attend conference in Ohio • Leading roles chosen for Mikado • Weekly correspondent brings to light conditions in beleaguered South Hall • Error in spring vacation changes junior weekend • Vespers program presents films on Soviet Russia, Russian music by Bach accompanist • Kellett to speak at smoker of Philadelphia alumni • Freshman composer writes song for class • Mertz and Haas debate Penn over WFIL • Interfraternity council sets dates of freshman rushing parties • Santo Domingan student speaks to university women group • World conferences subject of IRC speeches • Ouderkirk takes coach\u27s place as Phys. Ed. Club sponsor • Dr. Sibbald gives tips on play judging to manuscripters • Bullets ineffective as Hashagenmen take opener 36-28 • Wrestlers open Sat. with Penn • Dormitory bright lights begin to shine • Kellett starts boys tomorrow night • Soccer crown announced at sports banquet • Sheeder finds variety, spice in Lantern • Doggie roast, barn dance planned by YM-YW • Cancellations this year double normal amounthttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1886/thumbnail.jp

Predicting Total Student Credit Hours Production by Cohort Stratification

The objective of this study is to develop predictive models of total student credit hours (SCH) prior to the fall semester of interest by using preregistration data from Texas Woman's University (TWU). We developed two different approaches to predict SCH for undergraduate and SCH for graduate students separately. Our first approach is based on the patterns of weekly counts of SCH observed over time. For our second approach, we developed a model that relies on an average of SCH and a total headcount. This research presents a self-contained procedure to predict headcount and includes a criterion to select a prediction model for the average of SCH. After explaining the development of each of our SCH prediction models, we compare the results and discuss their strengths and weaknesses.Hamner, Mark S.Wheeler, AnnMarshall, Davi