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Midwestern US Farmers Perceive Crop Advisers as Conduits of Information on Agricultural Conservation Practices

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Abstract

Nonpoint source pollution from agricultural land uses continues to pose one of the most significant threats to water quality in the US, with measurable impacts across local, regional, and national scales. The impact and the influence of targeted conservation efforts are directly related to the degree to which farmers are familiar with and trust the entities providing the information and/or outreach. Recent research suggests that farmers consistently rank independent and retail-affiliated crop advisers as among the most trusted and influential sources for agronomic information, but little is understood about whether farmers are willing to receive advice from crop advisers on the use of practices that conserve soil and water, and, if so, whether crop advisers will be perceived as influential. We present survey data from farmers (n = 1461) in Michigan’s Saginaw Bay (Lake Huron) watershed to explore these questions. Results suggest that farmers view crop advisers as trustworthy sources of information about conservation, and influential on management practices that have large conservation implications. We discuss these results, along with perceived barriers and opportunities to crop advisers partnering with traditional conservation agencies to enhance the impact of voluntary conservation programs.

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Funding

Funding for this work was provided by the Cook Family Foundation and by the Mott Foundation (grant number 2010-01030.04).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Studies, Bates College, 7 Andrews Rd, Lewiston, ME, 04240, USA

    Francis R. Eanes

  2. Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, 195 Marsteller St, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA

    Ajay S. Singh, Pranay Ranjan & Linda S. Prokopy

  3. Department of Government and Justice Studies, Appalachian State University, PO Box 32107, Boone, NC, 28608, USA

    Brian R. Bulla

  4. The Nature Conservancy, 101 E Grand River Ave, Lansing, MI, 48906, USA

    Mary Fales, Benjamin Wickerham & Patrick J. Doran

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  1. Francis R. Eanes
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Correspondence to Francis R. Eanes.

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Eanes, F.R., Singh, A.S., Bulla, B.R. et al. Midwestern US Farmers Perceive Crop Advisers as Conduits of Information on Agricultural Conservation Practices. Environmental Management 60, 974–988 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-017-0927-z

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