Landowner Mail Survey on ‘Bioenergy and Land Use,’ Southern Michigan 2012 — Social Science Studies

Data in the KBS LTER core database may not be published without written permission of the lead investigator or project director Full terms of use

The compiled results of the questionnaire.

This datatable is part of the Bioenergy and Land Use Survey dataset.

The goal of this mail survey was to explore landowners’ attitudes, perceptions, and willingness to grow energy crops on marginal land in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. A major objective was to predict the potential supply of four potential bioenergy crops on three land types (cropland, hay & pasture land, farmable non-crop land), with special focus on the latter two categories of “marginal” land. The contingent valuation completely randomized experimental design covers four energy crops (corn, switchgrass, hybrid poplar, trees, mixed prairie) with four pre-defined rental rate offers ($50, $100, $200, $300 per acre) at one of two rental contract durations (5 or 10 years) for a total of 32 versions of the questionnaire. The area frame sample targeted owners of plots of 10 acres (4 hectares) or more of “marginal” land, using the USDA Cropland Data Layer 2010 where “marginal land” was defined as fallow cropland, shrubland, grassland, and hay or pasture. The two-stage clustered random sampling design began with random selection of 12 selected non-metropolitan counties in southern Michigan (the clusters) and within each one random selection of 100 owners of land parcels of at least 10 acres (4 ha.), where possible. The 4-wave direct mail survey asked landowners about their land uses, attitudes about their land, awareness of bioenergy crops, opinions about bioenergy and environment, concerns about land rental, and demographic background. The contingent valuation section asked for respondent willingness to rent each of the three land types for each of the four bioenergy crops at a specified rental rate for a specified contract period. The survey began in March 2012 and was completed in August 2012

Note

Experiment: Social Science Studies
Data available from: March 2012 to August 2012
Dataset: KBS098
Datatable ID: KBS098-001.4
Core Areas Populations
Repository link: http://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/3f43b536ef860a2046db415b22ffcd6a
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Last Updated 2023-10-24
Variate Description Units
id Landowner identification number
question 1 landowner owns over 10 acres of rural land, land that is grassland, forest, or farmland
question 2 Landowner is the main decision maker for land management for his rural land
a1 Landowner owns rural land in more than one location
allegan Landowner in Allegan county
barry Landowner in barry county
branch Landowner in branch county
ionia Landowner in ionia county
isabella Landowner in isabella county
lenawee Landowner in lenawee county
livingston Landowner in livingston county
newaygo Landowner in newaygo county
saginaw Landowner in saginaw county
sanilac Landowner in sanilac county
tuscola Landowner in tuscola county
van buren Landowner in van buren county
county other Landowner in a different county from those listed
a3 Currently rents out land for agricultural production
a4 acres of rural land rented out in 2011 (if A3=yes=1)
a5 most common rental rate for land (if A3=yes=1)
a6 Landowner grew commercial crops on rural land he owns in 2011 (excluding land rented out to others)
a7 Landowner's Intention to maintain the majority of his rural land
corn corn on rural land
soybeans soybeans on rural land
wheat wheat on rural land
other row crops other row crops on rural land
fruit trees fruit trees or plant on rural land
vegetables vegetables on rural land
grassland pasture Grassland or pasture on rural land
hay hay or alfalfa on rural land
forest forest on rural land
shrub shrub or scrub (low growth with bushes or few trees) on rural land
other farmable other potentially farmable land
other rural Any other rural land (i.e., not farmable land, wetlands, lawn and garden)
crp other1 = Land in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
total acres Total acres of land as totalled by owner on survey
scenery used land for scenery or view
physical activities used land for physical activities (walking, running or sports)
recreational vechicle used land for recreational vehicle use (4x4, quads, or dirt bikes)
hunting fishing used land for hunting or fishing
grazing used land for grazing livestock
commercial crops used land for commercial crops or garden income
conservation income used land for conservation program income
home second used land for a home or second home
firewood used land for firewood
wildlife food used land for food plots for deer or other game
garden wildlife other1 = used land for garden or wildlife habitat
a11a I would never sell the rural land that I own
a11b I would be willing to sell my land if I knew it was going to be used for agriculture
a11c I would consider renting the rural land that I own
a11d I would allow someone renting my rural land to store bales of hay or straw on it for a few months each year
a11e My family or friends would prefer that I not rent my rural land to grow crops
a11f Sometime in the next 10 years I plan to change the way I use my rural land
b1 Landowner had heard of bioenergy before
b2 Landowner knows that ethanol can be produced from other sources besides corn grain.
b3 Landowner knows that many bioenergy crops can be grown on less fertile soil such as farmable non-crop land that may be currently in forest or shrubs
b4 land owner had grown corn before
b5 landowner is aware that corn scraps could be used for bioenergy
b6 landowner has seen switchgrass before
b7 Landowner knows that switchgrass is a perennial crop
b8 Landowner has seen hybrid poplar trees planted in rows
b9 Landowner is aware that perennials like poplar cause less greenhouse gases because the soil is not tilled every year
b10 Landowner has currently prairie grasses on his/her land
b11 Landowner knows that mixed prairie provide the benefits of a bio-diverse landscape
corn price the assigned rental rate of corn per acre per year
corn contract the assigned contract length for corn land rental
corn cropland d decision of whether to rent cropland for corn
corn cropland a Acres willing to rent of cropland for corn if decision was yes
corn pasture d decision of whether to rent pasture land for corn
corn pasture a Acres willing to rent of pasture for corn if decision was yes
corn other d Decision of whether to rent other land for corn
corn other a Acres willing to rent of other land for corn if decision was yes
switch price the assigned rental rate of switchgrass per acre per year
switch contract the assigned contract length for switchgrass land rental
switch cropland d decision of whether to rent cropland for switchgrass
switch cropland a Acres willing to rent of cropland for switchgrass if decision was yes
switch pasture d decision of whether to rent pasture land for switchgrass
switch pasture a Acres willing to rent of pasture for switchgrass if decision was yes
switch other d Decision of whether to rent other land for switchgrass
switch other a Acres willing to rent of other land for switchgrass if decision was yes
poplar price the assigned rental rate of poplar per acre per year
poplar contract the assigned contract length for poplar land rental
poplar cropland d decision of whether to rent cropland for poplar
poplar cropland a Acres willing to rent of cropland for poplar if decision was yes
poplar pasture d decision of whether to rent pasture land for poplar
poplar pasture a Acres willing to rent of pasture for poplar if decision was yes
poplar other d Decision of whether to rent other land for poplar
poplar other a Acres willing to rent of other land for poplar if decision was yes
prairie price the assigned rental rate of prairie per acre per year
prairie contract the assigned contract length for prairie land rental
prairie cropland d decision of whether to rent cropland for prairie
prairie cropland a Acres willing to rent of cropland for prairie if decision was yes
prairie pasture d decision of whether to rent pasture land for prairie
prairie pasture a Acres willing to rent of pasture for prairie if decision was yes
prairie other d Decision of whether to rent other land for prairie
prairie other a Acres willing to rent of other land for prairie if decision was yes
d1a Agreement with: "Growing crops for renewable automotive fuel is necessary for our nation's future."
d1b Agreement with: "Burning renewable plant-based resources for electricity instead of burning non-renewable resources suach as coal is worth the extra cost."
d1c Agreement with: "Humans have the right to modify the natural environment to suit their needs."
d1d Agreement with: "Humankind is severely abusing the environment."
d1e Agreement with: "The so called "ecological crisis" facing humankind has been greatly exaggerated."
d1f Agreement with: "The balance of nature is very delicate and easily upset."
d1g Agreement with: "Renewable energy is not urgently needed right now."
d2a The potential smell is a concern when I think about renting my land for bioenergy crops
d2b Noise from harvesting, planting, or other activities is a concern when I think about renting my land for bioenergy crops
d2c Dust in the air is a concern when I think about renting my land for bioenergy crops
d2d Potential legal costs of contracting.
d2e The length of the contract is a concern when I think about renting my land for bioenergy crops
d2f The possible need for insurance is a concern when I think about renting my land for bioenergy crops
d2g Having other people on my land is a concern when I think about renting my land for bioenergy crops
d2h The land changing so that I can no longer use it as I have now is a concern when I think about renting my land for bioenergy crops
d2i The use of pesticide and fertilizer on my land is a concern when I think about renting my land for bioenergy crops
age Age of respondent
male Respondent is male
household members Number of household members (including the landowner)
farmer Respondent is farmer
income Respondent's income range
education Respondent's educational level
zoning Part of landowner's rural land is restricted by zoning
Protocols

Data Excerpt

id question_1 question_2 a1 allegan barry branch ionia isabella lenawee livingston newaygo saginaw sanilac tuscola van_buren county_other a3 a4 a5 a6 a7 corn soybeans wheat other_row_crops fruit_trees vegetables grassland_pasture hay forest shrub other_farmable other_rural crp total_acres scenery physical_activities recreational_vechicle hunting_fishing grazing commercial_crops conservation_income home_second firewood wildlife_food garden_wildlife a11a a11b a11c a11d a11e a11f b1 b2 b3 b4 b5 b6 b7 b8 b9 b10 b11 corn_price corn_contract corn_cropland_d corn_cropland_a corn_pasture_d corn_pasture_a corn_other_d corn_other_a switch_price switch_contract switch_cropland_d switch_cropland_a switch_pasture_d switch_pasture_a switch_other_d switch_other_a poplar_price poplar_contract poplar_cropland_d poplar_cropland_a poplar_pasture_d poplar_pasture_a poplar_other_d poplar_other_a prairie_price prairie_contract prairie_cropland_d prairie_cropland_a prairie_pasture_d prairie_pasture_a prairie_other_d prairie_other_a d1a d1b d1c d1d d1e d1f d1g d2a d2b d2c d2d d2e d2f d2g d2h d2i age male household_members farmer income education zoning
67 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 56 60 0 5 0 116 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 100 5 4 4 4 50 10 4 4 4 50 10 4 4 4 50 5 4 4 4 1 1 1 3 5 4 5 3 3 3 5 5 5 5 5 3 67 0 1 0 1 4 1
700 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 19 20 0 5 40 17 60 106 0 166 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 5 1 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 10 1 40 1 17 3 50 10 3 3 3 50 10 3 3 3 100 10 3 3 3 1 1 1 5 1 5 5 5 1 1 5 5 5 5 5 5 48 1 5 1 1 2 1,2,4,5
644 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 4 0.3 12 2.7 1 1 3 0 18 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 2 1 5 5 1 3 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 100 10 2 2 1 8 100 10 2 2 1 8 100 10 2 2 1 8 50 10 2 2 1 8 1 1 2 1 5 3 4 1 1 1 2 4 5 1 3 4 53 1 3 0 4 7 5
185 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 78 40 0 5 78 100 47 40 0 265 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 5 1 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 100 10 1 3 3 300 5 1 78 3 3 100 5 3 3 3 50 5 3 3 3 1 1 3 1 5 3 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 3 1 69 1 2 0 3 2
269 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 160 160 60 60 40 19 20 0 519 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 5 4 4 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 50 5 3 3 3 200 5 3 3 3 300 10 3 3 3 300 5 3 3 3 1 1 4 1 5 2 5 3 3 3 4 5 4 5 5 3 75 1 2 1 3 7 1
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