Toward a better understanding of the complex factors that influence farmers' soil and water conservation behaviors

Abstract

Corn and soybean expansion and concomitant decline in alternative crops and a shift toward high-input (synthetic fertilizer, pesticides) agriculture has led to soil degradation and nutrient loss in Iowa, nutrient runoff, sediment, and pesticide toxicity in waterways. Meanwhile, Iowa's agriculture has been increasingly influencing and influenced by the greater weather variability over the last decades. These extreme weather events will likely worsen current water pollution from soil erosion and nutrient runoff and is likely to harm crop yields. Farmers’ voluntary conservation practices adoption are crucial in addressing the environmental crisis. To address this need, this research explores the relationships between individual-level, farm-level, and structural factors and farmers’ adoption of conservation practices. In its first paper, this dissertation employed social cognitive theory and drew on previous research around the conceptual category of “motivations” to inform the study of relationships between the dynamic precursors and later modifiers of farmers’ adoption of in-field nutrient management Best Management Practices (BMPs). Data are from the 2014-2016 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, in which 617 respondents participated in all three years. The analytical approach was ordinal logistic regression considering that the dependent variable is an ordered measure of adoption. Results showed that self-efficacy and collective efficacy were predictors of adoption of innovative in-field BMPs. Also, stewardship motivation was a key driver of nutrient management practices adoption. The study also found that farmers may perceive nutrient management as an agroeconomic consideration rather than a pro-environmental behavior. This research provides innovative insights for policymaking, extension agencies, and other researchers concerning the adoption of nutrient management practices. Building on the first study, the second paper investigated factors influencing farmer voluntary adoption of a full range of 4R plus conservation practices including nutrient management, in-field, and edge-of-field practices. Binary logistic regression modeling was applied to explore the role of structural factors, farmers’ identity, and perceptions of precision agriculture on farmers’ adoption, using data from 2017 and 2018 IFRLP. The results showed that farmers who view themselves as opinion leaders in the community were more likely to adopt cover crop but not other practices. Stewardship identity was a significant, positive predictor of most in-field and edge-of-field plus practices adoption. Gross farm sales had a significant positive effect on use of almost all the 4R plus practices. These findings are important for policy makers and extension education programs because they highlight factors that are generally associated with farmers' 4R plus practices adoption. The final study in the dissertation focuses on determinants of farmers’ job satisfaction and dissatisfaction, and provides new angles to a better understanding of Iowa farmers’ adoption of conservation practices, as farmers’ job satisfaction has many far-reaching implications, potentially including their conservation practices adoption and climate change adaption. Drawing from agricultural and sociological theories, this research investigates 10 variables, some commonly found in the job satisfaction literature (e.g., farm financial problems), and some innovative (e.g., faith in crop insurance as climate change coping strategy) and their influence on farmers’ job satisfaction and/or dissatisfaction. This study analyzes data from the 2020 to the Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll. Ordinal logistic regression results showed that perceived adequacy of conservation practices was associated with both higher job satisfaction and lower job dissatisfaction, while stewardship motivation was associated with both higher job satisfaction and higher job dissatisfaction. These findings present recommendations to develop programs that link farmers’ wellbeing and adaptive actions toward more resilient agricultural systems. Overall, the dissertation findings provide a more comprehensive understanding of some less-investigated factors influencing farmers’ conservation practices adoption, including soil and water conservation practices and climate change adaption. It aims to provide information and advice to stakeholders who engage with farmers and support government policy, extension services, and planning agencies to draw appropriate inferences about farmers' job satisfaction and quality of life, conservation practices adoption, community coping strategies, and transition in agriculture and food production.