Willingness to Pay for Precision Application Technology : The Case of Mississippi

A contingent valuation survey conducted in Mississippi is used to assess public willingness to pay for reductions in agricultural nonpoint pollution. We focus on implementation of a policy to provide farmers with precision application equipment to reduce nutrient runoff. Findings suggest public support exists for such policies. This paper also finds that inclusion of debriefing questions can be used to refine willingness-to-pay estimates in contingent valuation studies. Nonparametric and econometric scope tests suggests respondents are sensitive to level of runoff reduction and associated water-quality benefits