2019 SWCS International Annual Conference July 28-31, 2019 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

1. What helps or hinders non-operating landowners from
taking steps toward conservation: Results from
implementing a trial conservation program
Dr. Pranay Ranjan, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Purdue University
Photos:TheNatureConservancy(DevanKing),©CarltonWardJr.

2. Introduction - The Issue
• Land tenure has social and environmental implications
• Adoption of conservation practices is lower on rented lands
• 54% of farmland is rented in the US Midwest
• Several barriers to conservation exist on rented lands
Citations: Bigelow et al. 2016; Petrzelka & Marquart-Pyatt 2011; Ranjan et al. 2019; Soule et al. 2000
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Photos:NRCS-USDA

3. Study Context
• >60% priority areas for
conservation are rented farmland
• Farm Market ID dataset
• ~100,000 Non-operating
landowners (NOLs)
• ~50 million acres
Counties with highest rented land and nitrogen runoff
Counties with Sparrow Coverage
Multiplied Scores (rent quartile x N quartile)
0 - 4
5 - 6
7 - 9
10 - 16
“I” States: Iowa, Illinois, Indiana
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4. Photo credits: © Carlton Ward Jr. (c) 2010 Andrew Kornylak, nrcs.usda.org
Study Design
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• Stratified random sampling to select 33,130
NOLs
• Received 3 different messages, with the option
to check:
• “Yes! I would like to receive more
information about how to improve soil
health on my farmland”
• Return of a postcard indicated interest in
learning more about soil health
• Respondents randomly assigned to three
treatments

5. A: Information
Only
B: A + Lease
Language
C: A + B+ $1,500
Financial
Incentive
Study Design
Experimental design to test the effect of three treatments on cover crop adoption
Treatment 1
Treatment 2
Treatment 3
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6. 6

7. 7

8. 8

9. Methods
• Mail survey of non-operating landowners (NOLs)
• Option to take the survey online
• Survey administered in 3 waves
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Photo credits: The Nature Conservancy (Devan King), © Carlton Ward Jr.
Treatment
group
Surveys
sent
Response
rate (%)
T1 1590 50.0
T2 1580 44.7
T3 551 41.9
TOTAL 3721 46.5

10. RESULTS
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11. Demographics
11
74.2%
25.7%
0.1%
What is your gender? [n=1495]
Male
Other
Female

12. Demographics
12
1.6%
20.5%
19.3%
7.4%
25.0%
26.2%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
Some formal schooling
High school diploma/GED
Some college
2-year college degree
4-year college degree
Post-graduate degree
What is the highest level of education you have completed? [n=1530]

13. Demographics
13
1.6%
20.5%
19.3%
7.4%
25.0%
26.2%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
Some formal schooling
High school diploma/GED
Some college
2-year college degree
4-year college degree
Post-graduate degree
What is the highest level of education you have completed? [n=1530]

14. Demographics
14
1.6%
20.5%
19.3%
7.4%
25.0%
26.2%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
Some formal schooling
High school diploma/GED
Some college
2-year college degree
4-year college degree
Post-graduate degree
What is the highest level of education you have completed? [n=1530]

15. Demographics
15
1.6%
20.5%
19.3%
7.4%
25.0%
26.2%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
Some formal schooling
High school diploma/GED
Some college
2-year college degree
4-year college degree
Post-graduate degree
What is the highest level of education you have completed? [n=1530]

16. Frequency of visiting farmland
16
0.6%
3.5%
7.2%
15.0%
11.4%
62.3%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Never
Less than once
Once
2-5 times
6-11 times
12 or more times
How often do you visit your farmland in a year? [n=1436]

17. Frequency of visiting farmland
17
0.6%
3.5%
7.2%
15.0%
11.4%
62.3%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Never
Less than once
Once
2-5 times
6-11 times
12 or more times
How often do you visit your farmland in a year? [n=1436]

18. Frequency of visiting farmland
18
0.6%
3.5%
7.2%
15.0%
11.4%
62.3%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Never
Less than once
Once
2-5 times
6-11 times
12 or more times
How often do you visit your farmland in a year? [n=1436]

19. Soil Health Packet: Overview
19
77.1%
22.9%
Do you remember receiving the soil
health information packet? [n=1541]
Yes
No
79.1%
20.9%
Did you read the soil health information
packet? [n=1247]
Yes
No

20. Soil Health Packet: Knowledge gain
20Scale: 0 Not at all, 1 Slightly, 2 Moderately, 3 Very
2.05
2.05
1.62
1.91
2.17
1.89
1.76
1.71
1.81
0.80
1.62
1.89
1.38
0.94
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
Cover Crops*
Soil health*
Statewide resources available for non-operating landowners*
Opportunities to discuss conservation with my tenant(s)*
Potential positive impacts of soil health for long-term value of my
land*
How to create a written lease*
How to incorporate cover crops into my lease*
How knowledgeable were you about the following before/after reading the
packet?
Before reading the packet After reading the packet
* Statistically significant knowledge gain

21. Soil Health Packet: Knowledge gain
21Scale: 0 Not at all, 1 Slightly, 2 Moderately, 3 Very
2.05
2.05
1.62
1.91
2.17
1.89
1.76
1.71
1.81
0.80
1.62
1.89
1.38
0.94
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
Cover Crops*
Soil health*
Statewide resources available for non-operating landowners*
Opportunities to discuss conservation with my tenant(s)*
Potential positive impacts of soil health for long-term value of my
land*
How to create a written lease*
How to incorporate cover crops into my lease*
How knowledgeable were you about the following before/after reading the
packet?
Before reading the packet After reading the packet
* Statistically significant knowledge gain

22. Soil Health Packet: Information evaluation
22Scale: 1 Strongly disagree, 2 Disagree, 3 Neither agree nor disagree, 4 Agree, 5 Strongly agree
4.25
4.11
3.97
3.92
3.87
3.71
3.56
3.46
0 1 2 3 4 5
I trust Purdue University as an information source (n= 1041)
I trust the information provided (n=1017)
The information was easy to understand (n=1015)
I trust The Nature Conservancy as an information source
(n=1005)
The information was useful to me (n=1006)
The lease addendum language was useful (n=530)
The $1,500 incentive was useful (n=120)
The information was useful to my tenant(s) (n=728)
Please indicate your level of disagreement or agreement with the following
statements regarding the information provided in the soil health information
packet.

23. Soil Health Packet: Behaviors
23
11.5%
12.1%
53.4%
23.0%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Don't know
Maybe
No
Yes
As a result of the information provided in the soil health information packet,
will/has at least one of your tenants plant(ed) cover crops in fall 2018 on your
land? [n=1089]

24. Soil Health Packet: Behaviors
24
7.1%
8.6%
8.8%
14.3%
15.2%
17.3%
17.8%
53.2%
55.5%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
I modified the lease(s) of my tenant(s) to include cover crops (n=1046)
I spoke to my financial professional about the potential economic value of
soil health (n=1048)
I spoke to at least one of the experts listed in the soil health packet for my
state about cover crops (n=1051)
I attended a field day to see cover crops planted on another farm
(n=1052)
I contributed financially to enable my tenant(s) to adopt cover crops (e.g.,
bought seed, changed rental rate) (n=1042)
I spoke with someone I trust about modifying at least one of my leases to
include cover crops (n=1047)
I sought information about cover crops from University Extension in my
county (n=1052)
I spoke to my family members about cover crops (n=1057)
I spoke to my tenant(s) about cover crops (n=1061)
Did you take any of the following actions after reading the soil health information
packet?

25. Soil Health Packet: Behaviors
25
7.1%
8.6%
8.8%
14.3%
15.2%
17.3%
17.8%
53.2%
55.5%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
I modified the lease(s) of my tenant(s) to include cover crops (n=1046)
I spoke to my financial professional about the potential economic value of
soil health (n=1048)
I spoke to at least one of the experts listed in the soil health packet for my
state about cover crops (n=1051)
I attended a field day to see cover crops planted on another farm
(n=1052)
I contributed financially to enable my tenant(s) to adopt cover crops (e.g.,
bought seed, changed rental rate) (n=1042)
I spoke with someone I trust about modifying at least one of my leases to
include cover crops (n=1047)
I sought information about cover crops from University Extension in my
county (n=1052)
I spoke to my family members about cover crops (n=1057)
I spoke to my tenant(s) about cover crops (n=1061)
Did you take any of the following actions after reading the soil health information
packet?

26. Soil Health Packet: Behaviors
26
7.1%
8.6%
8.8%
14.3%
15.2%
17.3%
17.8%
53.2%
55.5%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
I modified the lease(s) of my tenant(s) to include cover crops (n=1046)
I spoke to my financial professional about the potential economic value of
soil health (n=1048)
I spoke to at least one of the experts listed in the soil health packet for my
state about cover crops (n=1051)
I attended a field day to see cover crops planted on another farm
(n=1052)
I contributed financially to enable my tenant(s) to adopt cover crops (e.g.,
bought seed, changed rental rate) (n=1042)
I spoke with someone I trust about modifying at least one of my leases to
include cover crops (n=1047)
I sought information about cover crops from University Extension in my
county (n=1052)
I spoke to my family members about cover crops (n=1057)
I spoke to my tenant(s) about cover crops (n=1061)
Did you take any of the following actions after reading the soil health information
packet?

27. Potential conservation barriers
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Please indicate your level of disagreement or agreement with the following factors
that may affect your willingness to ask your tenant(s) to plant cover crops. M SD n
Declining commodity prices 3.51 1.130 1259
Cost of cover crops 3.46 0.987 1158
My tenant(s) is/are not convinced that cover crops are suitable. 3.06 1.100 1163
Lack of technical assistance for cover crops 2.97 0.930 1127
Uncertainty around the benefits of cover crops 2.95 1.068 1280
Lack of a written lease 2.57 1.073 1258
Discomfort talking to my tenant(s) about cover crops 2.51 1.034 1289
Fear of losing my tenant(s) 2.10 0.985 1284
Scale: 1 Strongly disagree, 2 Disagree, 3 Neither agree nor disagree, 4 Agree, 5 Strongly agree

28. Potential conservation barriers
28
Please indicate your level of disagreement or agreement with the following factors
that may affect your willingness to ask your tenant(s) to plant cover crops. M SD n
Declining commodity prices 3.51 1.130 1259
Cost of cover crops 3.46 0.987 1158
My tenant(s) is/are not convinced that cover crops are suitable. 3.06 1.100 1163
Lack of technical assistance for cover crops 2.97 0.930 1127
Uncertainty around the benefits of cover crops 2.95 1.068 1280
Lack of a written lease 2.57 1.073 1258
Discomfort talking to my tenant(s) about cover crops 2.51 1.034 1289
Fear of losing my tenant(s) 2.10 0.985 1284
Scale: 1 Strongly disagree, 2 Disagree, 3 Neither agree nor disagree, 4 Agree, 5 Strongly agree

29. Concluding thoughts…
• Treatments indicate promise in promoting
cover crops
• Knowledge gains
• Spurs actions
• Suggests potentially trusted sources for
information
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Photo credit: USDA-NRCS

30. Next Steps…
• Compare findings across different treatments
• Test efficacy of individual treatments in
promoting adoption of cover crops
• Conduct semi-structured in-depth interviews;
569 NOLs indicated interest in talking to us
• 21 interviews conducted
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Photo credit: USDA-NRCS

31. Next Steps…
• “I [had] a limited discussion on cover crops [with my tenant]. But it [the soil health packet]
opened up my eyes to even thinking [about] cover crops. I grew up on a farm, but I did not really
[get involved]…so, I am trying to get back to the earth again, and becoming more informed.”
• “…it [the packet] reinforced the perception I have. It didn't set a new idea. It elaborated on the
possibilities, for me, to take action on this [implementing conservation practices].”
• “…as I recall when I first read [the soil health packet], I felt like it was sort of condescending,
from the standpoint of, wow we've discovered no-till. Wow, here are these conservation
practices. And for people who've been doing it for a long time…the light hasn't just come on. The
light has been on for a long time in terms of…we've got to do everything we can to save our soil.
So…for somebody whose farm has been like this for over 30 years, it's not new.”
• “I’ve contacted FSA office and asked if there were any other farmers in our area that were using
cover crops and would be possibly interested in renting some more land, and they said, ““Well,
we don’t know of any!”” So, I’m kind of stuck!”
• “…my tenant lost money last year. If the price comes up, then of course everything changes. But
right now, cover crops are one more expense that you may or may not get a return this year.”
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32. References
• Bigelow, D., Borchers, A., Hubbs, T. (2016). US Farmland Ownership, Tenure, and Transfer.
• Petrzelka, P., & Marquart-Pyatt, S. (2011). Land tenure in the US: power, gender, and consequences for
conservation decision making. Agriculture and human values, 28(4), 549-560.
• Ranjan, P., Wardropper, C. B., Eanes, F. R., Reddy, S. M., Harden, S. C., Masuda, Y. J., & Prokopy, L. S. (2019).
Understanding barriers and opportunities for adoption of conservation practices on rented farmland in
the US. Land use policy, 80, 214-223.
• Soule, M. J., Tegene, A., & Wiebe, K. D. (2000). Land tenure and the adoption of conservation
practices. American journal of agricultural economics, 82(4), 993-1005.
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33. Acknowledgments
Supporters/Advisors
USDA NRCS
Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa
Cooperative Extension
American Farmland Trust
Farmers National Company
Big Pine Watershed Project, IN
North Central Region Water
Network, WI
reThink Soil
A Roadmap to U.S. Soil Health
TNC Soil Health Program, Indiana, Iowa, and Illinois Chapters
Sheila Reddy, Chief Strategy Office, TNC
Linda Prokopy, Professor, Purdue University
Paul Ferraro, Professor, Johns Hopkins University
Collin Weigel, Postdoctoral Fellow, Johns Hopkins University
Seth Harden, Upper Wabash River Project Director, TNC Indiana
Chloe Wardropper, Assistant Professor, University of Idaho
Yuta Masuda, Office of the Chief Scientist, TNC
Laura Esman, Research Associate & Lab Manager, Purdue University
Pranay Ranjan, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Purdue University
ranjanp@purdue.edu; @Pranay_Ranjan
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