Agri-Environment Advisory Activities Effects on Best Management Practices Adoption

This study investigates the factors that determine producers’ participation in agri-environmental advisory activities and their adoption of best management practices (BMPs) in Quebec (Canada). Data were collected from farmers in telephone interviews and the impacts of agri-environmental extension activities were analysed using average treatment effect and local average treatment effect, estimated with non-parametric approaches. The average effects of agri-environmental extension activities are statistically significant for the majority of BMPs. We also find a statistically significant formal diffusion effect of producer‘s membership in an agri-environmental advisory club. The informal diffusion effect is statistically significant for BMPs that need specific knowledge.