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 Prokopylprokopy@purdue.edu

http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~lprokopy/Photo credit: nasa.gov

Questions?