Habitat for nesting birds on active farms is topic of lecture - Nov. 15, 2007

The first year of a field experiment assessing ways of compensating farmers in Jamestown, R.I., for delaying hay mowing until after the nesting season for bobolinks has passed will be discussed by researcher Dr. Chris Anderson, associate professor, environmental and natural resource economics, U. of Rhode Island, who is currently at UAA on sabbatical. Active farm fields provide a number of open-space amenities, including habitat for wildlife. Farmers receive no income from such amenities, so when they're choosing farming practices they generally don't take into account the value of habitat and other amenities. But would they change their practices if local people who enjoy the amenities were willing to pay them to change? Dr. Anderson will discuss this question Thursday, Nov. 15, from noon to to 1:30 p.m. in the ISER conference room, 5th floor, Diplomacy Building, corner Tudor Road and Tudor Centre Drive. Parking is free. Call 786-7710 for directions or more information.