Absentee landowners and conservation programs: Mind the gap

In this research report, we examine determinants of absentee landowner participation in USDA set-aside and cost share programs. Previous research on these landowners suggests they have a high interest in conservation yet minimal involvement in government conservation programs on their land (e.g. Petrzelka et al., 2009; Roggenbuck and Kushman, 1980). Our aim is to better understand this gap in hopes of attracting absentee landowners as participants to USDA conservation programs.