Why do Farmers Adopt EMS? Market-Oriented Environmental Schemes and the Governance of Farm Management

Market-oriented environmental schemes, such as EMS, have been hailed as a promising mechanism for linking on-farm ecological improvement to marketplace benefits. However, in the absence of assured market benefits, are there other reasons for farmers to adopt and persevere with the continuous improvement practices associated with EMS? Through data from a 2005 study – conducted with a selection of participants in the Gippsland Beef and Lamb EMS Pilot Project – we explore the diversity of reasons that shape farmer adoption and use of EMS practices.