Socioeconomic factors could affect acreage owned and acreage farmed by small producers. However, there is limited research on the issue in the Southeastern U.S., for example, Alabama. Thus, this study examined the impact of socioeconomic factors on acreage owned and acreage farmed by small livestock producers in Alabama. The data were collected from a convenience sample of producers from several counties in Alabama, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression analysis. The results showed that a majority had farming experience of more than 30 years, but had livestock farming experience of less than 30 years. Also, a little over half owned over 60 acres of land, and a majority (58%) farmed over 60 acres. The ordinal logistic regression analyses showed that, of the socioeconomic factors, only age and education had statistically significant effects on acreage owned and acreage farmed. The findings suggest that socioeconomic factors, specifically, age and education, are important to farm size in the study area.

Production methods in livestock production have been a major source of contention in the public domain. This study focused on the impact of socioeconomic factors on Alabama consumers' perceptions on the use of chemicals in livestock products. The data were obtained by using convenience sampling; the sample size comprised 432 respondents from South Central Alabama. They were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic analysis. The socioeconomic factors revealed a high proportion of middle-aged or younger persons, with moderate educational levels, and many had low to moderate annual household incomes. Most thought the use of chemicals (pesticides, antibiotics, growth stimulants or hormones, artificial fertilizers, additives and preservatives, and artificial coloring) in locally or regionally produced beef or goat meat was a serious or somewhat serious hazard. The ordinal logistic results revealed that education and household income had significant effects on use of antibiotics; education had a significant effect on the use of growth stimulants or hormones; education had a significant effect on use of additives and preservatives; and education and household income had significant effects on use of artificial coloring. It was recommended that producers and processors be encouraged to use minimum amounts of chemicals, especially the four afore-mentioned ones, in meat products.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract