Collin uses behavioral economics to improve the design of environmental policies, and teaches how behavioral strategies can be used to learn how to make policies and outreach more effective and inclusive. His current research includes testing the efficacy of information, behavioral nudges, and financial incentives aimed at increasing adoption of conservation practices in the Midwest among more than 2,000 landowners. Another project tests how different information on soil erosion can increase engagement with Iowa farmers.

Using Targeted Messages to Improve Engagement in Agriculture

Collin Weigel, Richard Cruse, and Sheila M.W. Reddy. 2022. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation.

A story induces greater environmental contributions than scientific information among liberals but not conservatives

Hilary Byerly, Paul Ferraro, Tongzhe Li, Kent D. Messer, and Collin Weigel. 2022. One Earth.

Applying a “fail-fast” approach to conservation in US agriculture

Chloe B Wardropper, Laura A Esman, Seth C Harden, Yuta J Masuda, Pranay Ranjan, Collin Weigel, Paul J Ferraro, Linda S Prokopy, and Sheila MW Reddy. 2022 Conservation Science and Practice.

Behavioral biases among producers: Experimental evidence of anchoring in procurement auctions

Paul J Ferraro, Kent D Messer, Pallavi Shukla, and Collin Weigel. 2022. The Review of Economics and Statistics.

Lottery incentives, citizen science, and resource management: Evidence from the Agricultural Data Reporting Incentive Program (AgDRIP)

Ben S. Meiselman, Collin Weigel, Paul J. Ferraro, Mark Masters, Kent D. Messer, Olesya Savchenko, and Jordan F. Suter. 2022. Environmental and Resource Economics.

Challenges in recruiting US farmers for policy-relevant economic field experiments

Laura Paul, Collin Weigel, Paul J. Ferraro, and Kent D. Messer. 2021. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy.

Using a randomized controlled trial to develop conservation strategies on rented farmlands

Collin Weigel, Yuta Masuda, Seth Harden, Chloe B. Wardropper, Paul J. Ferraro, Linda Prokopy, and Sheila Reddy. 2021. Conservation Letters.

Rented farmland: A missing piece of the nutrient management puzzle in the Upper Mississippi River Basin?

Yuta J. Masuda, Seth C. Harden, Pranay Ranjan, Chloe B. Wardropper, Collin Weigel, Paul J. Ferraro, Sheila M.W. Reddy, Linda S. Prokopy. 2021. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation.

Barriers to Using Economic Experiments in Evidence‐Based Agricultural Policymaking

Stephanie Rosch, Sharon Raszap Skorbiansky, Collin Weigel, Kent D. Messer, and Daniel Hellerstein. 2020. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy.

The Problem of Feral Hogs and the Challenges of Providing a Weak-Link Public Good

Sean F. Ellis, Mark Masters, Kent D. Messer, and Collin Weigel. 2020. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy.

Conservation behavior and effects of economic and environmental message frames

Sheila Reddy, Chloe Wardropper, Collin Weigel, Yuta Masuda, Seth Harden, Pranay Ranjan, Jacqueline Getson, Laura Esman, and Paul J. Ferraro. 2020. Conservation Letters.