tuesday plenary panel - prokopy

Precision Conservation:The Human Component

Linda Stalker Prokopy, Ph.D.

Purdue University

benziecd.org

Sparrow model; water.usgs.org

ACPF output

Issues of Scale

Muth 2014

Problem 1: Picking a watershed

Assumption: Limited funds and can’t work everywhere

Not all watersheds are created equal

Where Programs Succeed

• Paid watershed staff• Active conservation groups• Inter-agency trust and

collaboration• Problem salience and

awareness• “Basic” BMPs already

adopted• Some farmers are

conservation leaders

Babin et al., In Press, Land Use Policy

Indian Creek, Illinois

Since 2011, over 50% of land is now in some form of conservation

Images: ctic.orgIndian Creek research funded by Illinois Soybean Association

Indian Creek, Illinois

Problem salience

Cohesive community

Minimal rented land

Small watershed

Dedicated staff

Photos: pantagraph.com; blogs.usda.gov

Problem 2: Getting People Engaged

Assumption: Need to change status quo

Prokopy et al., 2014, Society and Natural Resources

Indian Creek, Illinois

Photo: ctic.org

Steering Committee

“everyone feels like they’re

part of it”

Indian Creek, Illinois

Steering Committee

Funding

Indian Creek, Illinois

Steering Committee

Funding

Engagement of retailers

“bringing industry into it. . Farmers listen to ag retailers. . It’s their own people they’ve been working with. .”

Partnerships in Indian Creek

“Back to the issue of what do I see as being the key elements for success? Good working relationships amongst all of the various entities that can be involved. And that includes the fertilizer chemical dealers, the fertilizer chemical association, the various AG groups and organizations, the fertilizer supply companies…all the way up and down through the food chain…for the AG suppliers. And, locally here in the watershed, we’ve had a very good buy-in amongst the various organizations…   Partnerships and buy-in” – Fertilizer Dealer

Q: Please indicate how influential the following groups and individuals are when you make decisions about agricultural practices and strategies

Results from a 2012 survey of Midwestern corn producers conducted by Useful to Usable (U2U) and SustainableCorn.org

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 Influence

Moderate Influence

Slight Influence

No Influence

No contact

Prokopy et al. 2014. Purdue Extension Publication FNR-488-W; Davidson et al. 2015, Journal of Environmental Quality

Problem 3: Reaching Individual Farmers

risk perceptions

age information

attitudes

TRUST

values

fear of regulationnorms money

social networks

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

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

Q: Please indicate how influential the following groups and individuals are when you make decisions about agricultural practices and strategies

Results from a 2012 survey of Midwestern corn producers conducted by Useful to Usable (U2U) and SustainableCorn.org

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 Influence

Moderate Influence

Slight Influence

No Influence

No contact

Prokopy et al. 2014. Purdue Extension Publication FNR-488-W; Davidson et al. 2015, Journal of Environmental Quality

Do formal networks work?

Study of participants in Adapt-N and On Farm Network in Indiana

Longer participation = more reports of changing nitrogen rates and practices

BUT – the participating farmers were already higher

performing than other farmers– the participating farmers did not talk to others

about what they learned

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

Early Adopters of Cover Crops

Likely to keep using:– Years of experience– Believe trial and error effective means of

learning– Supportive landlords

Likely to discontinue: self-funders

Data Source: CTIC/SARE cover crop survey 2014

Problem 4: Within Field Targeting

Complex message

But can be a positive – less work???

Precision Conservation• Initially select watersheds

with greater chance of success

• Still need trusted innovators to adopt

• Partner with trusted advisors• Engage with landowner and

tenant – one-on-one• How can practice be

compatible with ongoing practices?

Contact Information:

Linda Prokopylprokopy@purdue.edu

http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~lprokopy/

@lprokopy

Photo credit: nasa.gov

Questions?