Open AccessDo Socioeconomic Factors Matter in Acreage Owned and Acreage Farmed by Small Livestock Producers in Georgia?
Author(s) -
David Nii O. Tackie,
Jannette R. Bartlett,
Akua Adu-Gyamfi,
Nicole I. Nunoo,
Bridget J. Perry
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of agricultural science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1916-9760
pISSN - 1916-9752
DOI - 10.5539/jas.v12n8p42
Subject(s) - socioeconomic status , livestock , agriculture , logistic regression , socioeconomics , agricultural science , geography , descriptive statistics , ordered logit , farm income , sample (material) , agricultural economics , economics , forestry , demography , mathematics , population , biology , statistics , archaeology , sociology , chemistry , chromatography
Although socioeconomic factors may influence acreage owned and acreage farmed by small producers, limited studies have been conducted on this topic in the Southeastern U.S., such as in Georgia. Therefore, the study ascertained the effect of socioeconomic factors on acreage owned and acreage farmed by small livestock producers in Georgia. The data were obtained from a sample of producers, and assessed by using descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression analysis. The findings revealed that a majority had farming experience and livestock farming experience of 30 years or less, respectively, 82 and 77%. Corresponding proportions for 20 years or less were 74 and 71%. Additionally, a little less than half (48%) owned over 60 acres of land, and a majority (55%) farmed over 60 acres. The ordinal logistic regression analyses revealed that, of the socioeconomic factors, farming status, education, and household income had statistically significant effects on acreage owned and acreage farmed. The findings suggest that socioeconomic factors matter in farm size in the study area, and they should be taken into consideration when designing programs for small producers.