Scott R. Templeton

Usefulness and uses of climate forecasts for agricultural extension in South Carolina, USA

Farmers and extensionists can use forecasts about agro-climatic conditions to reduce risks of agricultural production. Eighteen extension agents, researchers, consultants, and farmers provided feedback about decision support tools that utilize such forecasts during focus groups that were conducted in Florence, South Carolina on January 14, 2011. Climate Risk and County Yield Database were the tools most selected as potentially useful for agricultural extension in South Carolina. An irrigation scheduler was the most frequently mentioned tool to be developed. Also, a survey of Clemson University’s extension personnel was conducted in January and February 2011 to assess interest of South Carolina’s growers and producers in using climate forecasts, eleven potential uses of climate forecasts by extension’s clientele, and potential usefulness to extensionists of twelve specific forecasts. Clemson’s extensionists represent approximately 97xa0% of the state’s agricultural extensionists. They are more likely than not to agree that growers and producers are interested in using climate forecasts. Most of the state’s extension personnel also think that farmers could use a climate forecast to improve irrigation management and planting schedules. A majority of the state’s extensionists thinks that a freeze alert could be useful to them and the proportion that thinks the forecast could be useful exceeds the proportion that thinks any other forecast could be useful. Most extensionists also think that a forecast of plant moisture stress could be useful to help farmers schedule irrigation. The key survey results are remarkably similar to those from surveys of extension personnel at North Carolina State University in early 2009 and University of Florida in late 2004.

What Explains the Incidence of the Use of a Common Sediment Control on Lots with Houses under Construction

To analyze compliance with one aspect of the regulation of stormwater discharge, we estimate a random-utility model of the probability that a builder uses a silt fence to control sediments on a lot with a house under construction in an urbanizing county of South Carolina. The probability increases if the builder is responsible to the subdivision’s developer or if a homeowners association exists. The probability also increases as the cost to install a silt fence decreases or the number of houses under construction per built house in a subdivision increases. The results can help county officials target inspection to improve compliance.

Farmer Interest in and Uses of Climate Forecasts for Florida and the Carolinas: Conditional Perspectives of Extension Personnel

AbstractIn baseline surveys that were conducted in Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina, extension personnel were asked whether, how, and which farmers would use climate forecasts to manage production and other aspects of their agribusinesses. In making such assessments extensionists use their expertise to account for, the authors assume, net benefits to farmers of the forecasts, given any help that they also expect to provide their clients. Models of conditional probabilities are estimated to show how the assessments depend on the expertise and other characteristics of the extensionist and her clientele. For example, if a person has worked at least 7 years in extension, she is more likely to agree or strongly agree that farmers are interested in using climate forecasts. An extensionist who works with field crop producers is more likely than one who does not to think that a farmer can use climate forecasts to improve planting schedules, harvest planning, crop selection, nutrient management, and lan...