2017 SWCS Annual Conference July 30-August 2, 2017 Monona Terrace Convention Center

1. Leveraging Crop
Advisers to Deliver
Agricultural
Conservation Advice and
Increase the Adoption of
Conservation Practices
Linda S. Prokopy, Ph.D.
Francis R. Eanes, Ph.D.
1

2. Who influences farmers’
on-farm decision making
the most?
• family members
• agricultural consultants
• seed/equipment/
chemical dealers
• crop advisers
(Prokopy et al., 2015)
Conservation practice adoption:
New partners, new approaches?
IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion

3. Who influences farmers’
on-farm decision making
the most?
• family members
• agricultural consultants
• seed/equipment/
chemical dealers
• crop advisers
(Prokopy et al., 2015)
Conservation practice adoption:
New partners, new approaches?
IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion

4. Could crop advisers (CAs) increase the effectiveness of
the typical conservation approach?
• How influential are CAs with regards to farmers’
conservation decision making?
• How open are farmers to receiving conservation
information and advice from CAs?
• What sort of a role in conservation do CAs see for
themselves?
• What does NRCS/SWCDs think about CAs having a
role in conservation?
Research Questions
IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion

5. IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion

6. Study Area: Saginaw Bay Watershed
IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion

7. Farmer survey (5-wave mail)
• Random sample of 3,000 agricultural landowners who received government
payments in 2015
• 1,459 total respondents (49.5% response rate)
• 892 farmers, 567 non-operating landowners
Farmer interviews
• 22 semi-structured in-person interviews
• Non-random, maximum-variability sample (farm size, crops, age)
CA survey (5-wave e-mail)
• Census of 243 CAs in Michigan
• Responses: 81 total responses (33.3% response rate)
CA interviews
• 12 semi-structured in-person interviews
• All survey respondents contacted once by phone and invited to participate
NRCS/SWCD survey (4-wave e-mail)
• Census of 130 NRCS/SWCD staff in Saginaw Bay area in Michigan
• Responses: 55 total responses (42.3% response rate)
IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion

8. Farmers
8
IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion

9. Crop advisers & conservation
• 59.5% of farmers currently use a CA
• Who uses CAs? Larger farms, younger farmers
• ~85% of agricultural land in Saginaw Bay farmed by a
producer who uses a CA
9
IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion

10. How much do you trust the sources of information about conservation
practices? Scale: 3=very much; 0=not at all
10
IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Environmental groups
TNC
MDEQ
Sportsmen groups
MDNR
MDARD
MABA
Fertilizer reps
Commodity groups
Other farmers/landowners
MI Farm Bureau
NRCS
Retail agronomists/CAs
SWCD
Independent CAs
MSU Extension
FSA
Very much Moderately Slightly Not at all Not familiar with
n = 494; M=2.3
n = 488; M=2.3
n = 489; M=2.1
n = 489; M=2.1
n = 486; M=2.1
n = 486; M=2.1
n = 487; M=2.0
n = 487; M=2.0
n = 491; M=1.9
n = 489; M=1.7
n = 487; M=1.7
n = 485; M=1.6
n = 489; M=1.5
n = 487; M=1.2
n = 488; M=1.2
n = 484; M=0.7
n = 484; M=0.4

11. How much do you trust the sources of information about conservation
practices? Scale: 3=very much; 0=not at all
11
IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Environmental groups
TNC
MDEQ
Sportsmen groups
MDNR
MDARD
MABA
Fertilizer reps
Commodity groups
Other farmers/landowners
MI Farm Bureau
NRCS
Retail agronomists/CAs
SWCD
Independent CAs
MSU Extension
FSA
Very much Moderately Slightly Not at all Not familiar with
n = 494; M=2.3
n = 488; M=2.3
n = 489; M=2.1
n = 489; M=2.1
n = 486; M=2.1
n = 486; M=2.1
n = 487; M=2.0
n = 487; M=2.0
n = 491; M=1.9
n = 489; M=1.7
n = 487; M=1.7
n = 485; M=1.6
n = 489; M=1.5
n = 487; M=1.2
n = 488; M=1.2
n = 484; M=0.7
n = 484; M=0.4

12. How much do you trust the sources of information about conservation
practices? Scale: 3=very much; 0=not at all
12
IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Environmental groups
TNC
MDEQ
Sportsmen groups
MDNR
MDARD
MABA
Fertilizer reps
Commodity groups
Other farmers/landowners
MI Farm Bureau
NRCS
Retail agronomists/CAs
SWCD
Independent CAs
MSU Extension
FSA
Very much Moderately Slightly Not at all Not familiar with
n = 494; M=2.3
n = 488; M=2.3
n = 489; M=2.1
n = 489; M=2.1
n = 486; M=2.1
n = 486; M=2.1
n = 487; M=2.0
n = 487; M=2.0
n = 491; M=1.9
n = 489; M=1.7
n = 487; M=1.7
n = 485; M=1.6
n = 489; M=1.5
n = 487; M=1.2
n = 488; M=1.2
n = 484; M=0.7
n = 484; M=0.4

13. How much do you trust the sources of information about conservation
practices? Scale: 3=very much; 0=not at all
13
IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Environmental groups
TNC
MDEQ
Sportsmen groups
MDNR
MDARD
MABA
Fertilizer reps
Commodity groups
Other farmers/landowners
MI Farm Bureau
NRCS
Retail agronomists/CAs
SWCD
Independent CAs
MSU Extension
FSA
Very much Moderately Slightly Not at all Not familiar with
n = 494; M=2.3
n = 488; M=2.3
n = 489; M=2.1
n = 489; M=2.1
n = 486; M=2.1
n = 486; M=2.1
n = 487; M=2.0
n = 487; M=2.0
n = 491; M=1.9
n = 489; M=1.7
n = 487; M=1.7
n = 485; M=1.6
n = 489; M=1.5
n = 487; M=1.2
n = 488; M=1.2
n = 484; M=0.7
n = 484; M=0.4

14. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Please state your level of agreement with the following statements:
5=strongly agree, 1=strongly disagree
14
IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion
n=481; M=3.4
n=489; M=3.9
n=484; M=3.3
n=484; M=3.3
n=481; M=2.8
I follow my crop advisor's
recommended rates for phosphorus
application
I trust my crop advisor to make
conservation practice
recommendations
I'd like my crop advisor to provide
farm & field-specific conservation
advice
I think crop advisers will have
needed info & answers about
conservation practices
I am willing to pay my crop advisor
for conservation recommendations

15. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Please state your level of agreement with the following statements:
5=strongly agree, 1=strongly disagree
15
IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion
n=481; M=3.4
n=489; M=3.9
n=484; M=3.3
n=484; M=3.3
n=481; M=2.8
I follow my crop advisor's
recommended rates for phosphorus
application
I trust my crop advisor to make
conservation practice
recommendations
I'd like my crop advisor to provide
farm & field-specific conservation
advice
I think crop advisers will have
needed info & answers about
conservation practices
I am willing to pay my crop advisor
for conservation recommendations

16. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Please state your level of agreement with the following statements:
5=strongly agree, 1=strongly disagree
16
IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion
n=481; M=3.4
n=489; M=3.9
n=484; M=3.3
n=484; M=3.3
n=481; M=2.8
I follow my crop advisor's
recommended rates for phosphorus
application
I trust my crop advisor to make
conservation practice
recommendations
I'd like my crop advisor to provide
farm & field-specific conservation
advice
I think crop advisers will have
needed info & answers about
conservation practices
I am willing to pay my crop advisor
for conservation recommendations

17. Crop Advisers
17
IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion

18. Please state your level of agreement with the following statements:
5=strongly agree, 1=strongly disagree
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
strongly agree somewhat agree neither agree nor disagree somewhat disagreee strongly disagree
Conservation practices have a role to play in
addressing water quality issues
My organization supports innovation
My organization supports conservation
My direct supervisor supports promoting
conservation practices
I am comfortable talking about conservation
practices with farmers
I am knowledgeable enough to talk about
conservation practices with farmers
Discussions about conservation are a natural
extension of my job as a CA
Incorporating conservation practices into my
business makes financial sense for me
The procedures/policies for the Saginaw Bay
RCPP program are clear to me
n=72; M=4.5
n=71; M=4.5
n=72; M=4.4
n=72; M=4.2
n=72; M=4.1
n=72; M=4.1
n=72; M=4.0
n=71; M=3.5
n=72; M=2.5
18
IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion

19. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
strongly agree somewhat agree neither agree nor disagree somewhat disagreee strongly disagree
Conservation practices have a role to play in
addressing water quality issues
My organization supports innovation
My organization supports conservation
My direct supervisor supports promoting
conservation practices
I am comfortable talking about conservation
practices with farmers
I am knowledgeable enough to talk about
conservation practices with farmers
Discussions about conservation are a natural
extension of my job as a CA
Incorporating conservation practices into my
business makes financial sense for me
The procedures/policies for the Saginaw Bay
RCPP program are clear to me
n=72; M=4.5
n=71; M=4.5
n=72; M=4.4
n=72; M=4.2
n=72; M=4.1
n=72; M=4.1
n=72; M=4.0
n=71; M=3.5
n=72; M=2.5
19
IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion
Please state your level of agreement with the following statements:
5=strongly agree, 1=strongly disagree

20. Please state your level of agreement with the statement that CAs should
have an important role to play regarding the following services/decisions:
5=strongly agree, 1=strongly disagree
20
IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Maintenance of current conservation practices
Installation of new conservation practices
Seed type
Crop rotation
Manure application
Crop disease
Pesticide/herbicide application
Fertilizer type
Fertilizer placement
Fertilizer timing
Soil testing
strongly agree somewhat agree neither agree nor disagree somewhat disagreee strongly disagree
n=72; M=4.7
n=72; M=4.6
n=72; M=4.6
n=72; M=4.6
n=71; M=4.5
n=72; M=4.5
n=71; M=4.4
n=71; M=4.3
n=72; M=4.0
n=72; M=3.9
n=72; M=3.8

21. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Maintenance of current conservation practices
Installation of new conservation practices
Seed type
Crop rotation
Manure application
Crop disease
Pesticide/herbicide application
Fertilizer type
Fertilizer placement
Fertilizer timing
Soil testing
strongly agree somewhat agree neither agree nor disagree somewhat disagreee strongly disagree
n=72; M=4.7
n=72; M=4.6
n=72; M=4.6
n=72; M=4.6
n=71; M=4.5
n=72; M=4.5
n=71; M=4.4
n=71; M=4.3
n=72; M=4.0
n=72; M=3.9
n=72; M=3.8
21
IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion
Please state your level of agreement with the statement that CAs should
have an important role to play regarding the following services/decisions:
5=strongly agree, 1=strongly disagree

22. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Maintenance of current conservation practices
Installation of new conservation practices
Seed type
Crop rotation
Manure application
Crop disease
Pesticide/herbicide application
Fertilizer type
Fertilizer placement
Fertilizer timing
Soil testing
strongly agree somewhat agree neither agree nor disagree somewhat disagreee strongly disagree
n=72; M=4.7
n=72; M=4.6
n=72; M=4.6
n=72; M=4.6
n=71; M=4.5
n=72; M=4.5
n=71; M=4.4
n=71; M=4.3
n=72; M=4.0
n=72; M=3.9
n=72; M=3.8
22
IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion
Please state your level of agreement with the statement that CAs should
have an important role to play regarding the following services/decisions:
5=strongly agree, 1=strongly disagree

23. SWCS/NRCS
23
IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion

24. NRCS/SWCD: Why (or why not) are you comfortable with CAs participating
in programs like RCPP and delivering conservation advice to farmers?
Response Frequency
Delivering conservation information conflicts with CAs’ primary role 13
CAs lack the proper training/expertise in conservation 11
Conservation programs are a low priority for CAs 7
CAs could be influential if adequately trained 6
CAs have not yet delivered on their promised support role for RCPP 4
CAs could be influential if public-private sector collaborations
barriers were lowered
1
24

25. How much of a problem are the following water quality pollutants in the Saginaw
Bay watershed?
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0
NRCS/SWCDs CAs Farmers
Bacteria
Phosphorus
Heavy metals
Sediment
Muck
Nitrates/
nitrogen
a and b indicate differences between
groups, significant at p<.05
Slight problem Moderate problemNot a problem Severe problem
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
b
b
b
b
a
25

26. Barriers to CAs recommending conservation
practices
1. No clear financial compensation/incentive scheme
2. Occupational inertia – i.e. difficult for older CAs to make a paradigm
shift and incorporate conservation into their traditional services
3. Uneven knowledge about cost-benefit tradeoffs of conservation
practices
4. Lack of support from SWCDs/NRCS
26
IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion

27. Barriers to CAs recommending enrollment in
conservation programs
1. Too much paperwork, delays, and program complexity
2. Fear that (1) and a lack of program flexibility will lead to farmers having
bad experiences in programs, which will reflect poorly on the
recommending CA
3. Who gets credit for encouraging farmers to enroll in programs?
4. Institutional/organizational gap between public/private sectors
5. Perception that gov’t conservation agencies are no longer on cutting edge
27
IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion

28. Cross-cutting themes
1. Some disagreement about the state of water quality in the
Saginaw Bay watershed.
2. Farmers are open to and interested in receiving conservation
advice/recommendations from CAs, but are unwilling to pay for it
3. Farmers have not yet formed strong attitudes towards CAs as
conservation partners
4. Uncertainty about whether/how CAs should be compensated for
supporting conservation practices & programs
4. Some agreement that more public-private collaboration is needed,
but acknowledgement that significant barriers to collaboration
remain.
28
IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion

29. Acknowledgments:
NRSS Lab, Purdue University:
Ajay S. Singh, Brian R. Bulla, Pranay Ranjan, Jackie M. Getson, Laura
Esman
The Nature Conservancy:
Mary Fales, Ben Wickerham, Patrick Doran, Randy Dell
Michigan Agri-business Association:
Tim Boring
Michigan Natural Resources Conservation Service
Financial support:
Cook Family Foundation
Mott Foundation
The Nature Conservancy 29

30. Questions? Contact:
Linda Prokopy
lprokopy@purdue.edu
@lprokopy
30
Francis Eanes
feanes@bates.edu