Arkansas Study Explores Farmer Response to Drought

Grant Funds Research on How Farmers Manage Water in Dry Conditions

A team from the University of Arkansas-Little Rock is examining how farmers react to drought conditions and changing water availability. Supported by a national grant, the study explores how risk preferences among farmers impact their water usage during dry periods. 

Associate Professor Kent Kovacs, from the Department of Accounting, Economics, and Finance, is leading the three-year research initiative.

The study focuses on farming communities in Arkansas, the Lower Mississippi River Basin, Louisiana, and parts of Missouri. It aims to assess whether farmers behave conservatively or are driven more by economic pressures during droughts.

“You can have a string of generally very dry years or you could have a string of very wet years,” Kovacs pointed out. “How they respond depends upon what their preference is for taking risks in their farming business.” 

To gather accurate data, the team is conducting farmer surveys and feeding the information into advanced economic and hydrologic models. These models evaluate how quickly water supplies decline under various risk behaviours. If significant patterns are discovered, the findings may support recommendations for policy changes.

The research is designed not only to understand the current farmer mindset but also how it may shift with climate change. The project will include three meetings with stakeholders—government officials, farmers, and other community members—to ensure wide dissemination and collaborative understanding of the results.

Because agriculture is one of the largest consumers of water, especially during droughts, the study could help shape sustainable farming practices and future water management policies.