Communicating to Landowners in the Texas Little River Watershed: A Descriptive Analysis of Their Communication Preferences for Receiving Water-Related Information

Authors

  • Stacey Dewald Texas A&M University
  • Holli R. Leggette Texas A&M University
  • Theresa Pesl Murphrey Texas A&M University
  • Allen Berthold Texas A&M University
  • Kevin Wagner Oklahoma State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2018.02343

Keywords:

Communication, education, watershed-based plans, water quality, agriculture

Abstract

Elevated levels of bacteria impact the use of the Little River watershed in Texas. The amount of bacteria entering the waterway could be reduced if landowners within the watershed received water-related information and adopted best management practices. However, landowners’ access to water-related information is limited, perhaps, because the information is not targeted to them and their preferences. Therefore, to identify landowners’ communication preferences for receiving water-related information, we assessed 275 landowners in the Texas Little River watershed using a paper questionnaire. Respondents preferred water-related information delivered via websites monthly and direct mailings quarterly, twice annually, and annually and least preferred social media platforms as a communication medium. Yet, we found no statistically significant differences between respondents’ demographics and their preferred communication mediums. Furthermore, respondents identified Texas A&M AgriLife Extension as the most trustworthy source of waterrelated information. Water resource experts, therefore, should disseminate information using websites and direct mailings in partnership with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Further research should be conducted using observations, focus groups, and interviews during the watershed-based planning process to understand reasons for landowners’ communication preferences.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2018-06-30

How to Cite

Dewald, S., Leggette, H. R., Murphrey, T. P., Berthold, A., & Wagner, K. (2018). Communicating to Landowners in the Texas Little River Watershed: A Descriptive Analysis of Their Communication Preferences for Receiving Water-Related Information. Journal of Agricultural Education, 59(2), 343–369. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2018.02343

Issue

Section

Articles

Most read articles by the same author(s)

<< < 1 2 3 > >>