Agriculture and water quality in the midwestern USA
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Transcript of Agriculture and water quality in the midwestern USA
Agriculture and water quality in the Midwestern US:
An exploration of social issues
Linda Stalker Prokopy, Ph.D.
Purdue University
Mississippi River Basin
http://www.nps.gov/miss/riverfacts.htm
• Nearly one-third of global supply of maize• Over $50B to US economy
Midwestern United States
http://www.scottshephard.com/2011/10/11/moonset-over-iowa-corn-field/
“We have to feed the world!”
Challenges with Watershed Management
Non point source (NPS) pollution (diffuse pollution) is major cause of water quality impairment; agriculture major source
Limited regulatory options Addressed mainly through persuasion
and voluntary practices Financial incentives Technical support Outreach & education
We don’t know enough about what motivates people to change behaviors
Three Types of Indicators for Watershed Management
Environmental– Nutrient loads, E. Coli
Administrative– Bean counting!– Number of plans written,
number of newsletters distributed
Social
Conceptual Model
Social EnvironmentalAdministrative
Improvement & protection of water quality
socialnorms
Program Activities
knowledge
awareness
skills
attitudes
capacity
values
constraints
Use of water quality management Practices
Reduction in Stressors
Natural Resource Social Science Lab at Purdue
Surveys
Interviews
Literature reviews
Focus groups
Facilitated meetings
1982-2007: 55 U.S. Studies looked at BMP adoption
Meta-analysis results published in Prokopy et al., 2008, Journal of Soil and Water Conservation and Baumgart-Getz, Prokopy, Floress, 2012, Journal of Environmental Management.
1982-2007: 55 U.S. Studies
Overall Finding:– Very few generalizable trends
However
age
1982-2007: 55 U.S. Studies
Overall Finding:– Very few generalizable trends
However
Farm size
Smaller Farms:
– Not as aware of information sources: SWCD, NRCS, watershed group, Extension
– Less aware of pollutants and practices– Have more positive attitudes towards
improving water quality– More willing to try new practices
Perry-Hill and Prokopy, 2014, Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
1982-2007: 55 U.S. Studies
Overall Finding:– Very few generalizable trends
However
Environmental attitudes
Attitudes
Three types of farmers:
- motivated by farm as business
- motivated by stewardship concerns
- motivated by off-farm environmental benefits
Reimer, Thompson, Prokopy, 2012, Agriculture and Human Values
1982-2007: 55 U.S. Studies
Overall Finding:– Very few generalizable trends
However
Producer Survey
Advisor Survey
Family
Chemical d
ealer
Seed dealer
Consulta
nt
Landlord
Other farm
ersNRCS
Banker/lawyer
FSA
Univ. Exte
nsion
Custom operator
Farm organiza
tion
State Ag Dept.
State Climatologist
Non-farm
ing friend
Conservation staff
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Strong InfluenceModerate InfluenceSlight InfluenceNo InfluenceNo contact
Please indicate how influential the following groups and individuals are when you make decisions about agricultural practices and strategies. (16 options)
Family, chemical dealers, and seed dealers are most influentialInfluence of Extension is mixed
Practice Characteristics also Important
Focus on:• Raising awareness of on-
farm and financial benefits
• Environmental benefits• Compatibility with
current farm practices
Reimer, Weinkauf, Prokopy, 2012, Journal of Rural Studies
Indiana Prairie Farmer
Diffusion of Innovations (Rogers)Early
Majority34%
Late Majority
34%
Early Adopters
13.5%
Innovators
2.5%
Laggards16%
x - 2sd x - sd x x + sd
Innovators:- Need to be respected in community for this to lead to more adoption.
Diffusion of Innovations (Rogers)Early
Majority34%
Late Majority
34%
Early Adopters
13.5%
Innovators
2.5%
Laggards16%
x - 2sd x - sd x x + sd
knowledge persuasion implementationconfirmationdecision
What motivates maintenance?
Local networks – being connected to community groups– Social norm towards BMP maintenance?
Sense of ownership is important– Hesitancy to participate in government
programs leads to longer term maintenance
Adam Baumgart-Getz, Ph.D. Dissertation, 2010
Where Programs Succeed
• Focus on watersheds with sufficient capacity:• Paid watershed staff• Active conservation groups• Inter-agency trust and
collaboration• Problem salience and
awareness• “Basic” BMPs already adopted• Some farmers are
conservation leadersSource: facilitated discussion with government program administrators, university researchers, and professional resource managers
Where Programs Fail
• Focus on the individual farmer, not communities• Lack of consistent farmer network
engagement• Don’t think about maintenance• Don’t consider constraints such as
drainage boards or equivalent• No landscape-scale planning,
geographic targeting• Despite interest from farmers!*
*Margaret Kalcic, Ph.D. Dissertation, 2013
Conceptual Model for Social Indicators
Social EnvironmentalAdministrative
Improvement & protection of water quality
socialnorms
Program Activities
knowledge
awareness
skills
attitudes
capacity
values
constraints
Use of water quality management Practices
Reduction in Stressors
Social Indicators for Planning & Evaluation System (SIPES)
Critical areas & target audiences
Scale is project level Consistent survey questions
and data collection protocols Used across projects Compared over time Compared across projects
Prokopy et al. Journal of Extension, 2009
SI Planning and Evaluation Process
Pilot Testing
Over 30 projects in six states
Rural/urban Large/small Experienced/non-
Download at: www.iwr.msu.edu/sidma
Highlights• Checklists for all 7 steps• How to use SIDMA• Choosing a survey method• Selecting sample size• Administering a survey• Interpreting data• Designing outreach
programs• Sample surveys and cover
letters
Main Page
Contact Information:
Linda [email protected]
http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~lprokopy/Photo credit: nasa.gov
Questions?