The results of the recent Best Management Practices (BMPs) Survey conducted by CTIC and The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) are in and they have garnered much excitement and renewed enthusiasm within both conservation and agricultural organizations.
Last fall, CTIC and TFI joined together in an effort to gather benchmarking information for current BMPs on U.S. farms. The goal of the survey was to better understand environmental management measures on U.S. farms as well as the barriers to adoption of BMPs. The responses indicate that many farmers are indeed using conservation practices—in many cases a system of conservation practices—on their operations.
Nearly 2,000 farmers responded to the survey, representing about 2.5 million acres of farmed cropland. Located primarily in the Midwest, survey respondents had an average of 29 years of farming experience and were typically males around 52 years old. Seventy-five percent of those answering the survey farm a corn-soybean rotation or a corn-soybean-wheat rotation. Seventy-nine percent had at least some college education.
More than half of the row crop producers who responded to the survey have fully adopted conservation tillage, nutrient management, grassed waterways and integrated pest management. What’s more, the survey indicated that farmers are adopting more than one BMP. “The row crop respondents that are practicing no-till also appear to incorporate other top management conservation practices; so they’re applying a systems approach to conservation and that makes a lot of sense. The systems approach helps them be responsible stewards and offers great economic benefits,” says CTIC Executive Director Karen Scanlon.
The comprehensive survey netted great results. Key points from the survey:
- Having a conservation plan is a key predictor of additional conservation behavior.
- Farmers indicated that financial assistance is mostly preferred over educational and technical assistance, as related to best management practice adoption. In six of the 12 categories, including conservation buffers, GPS yield monitor, irrigation water management, precision agriculture, terraces, and water and sediment control basins, financial assistance was most preferred.
- The top four respected information sources cited are Cooperative Extension, certified crop advisers, agribusiness, and Natural Resources Conservation Service. Family members and local farming leaders rated amongst the lowest as preferred information sources.
- A positive correlation exists between large scale farms and adoption of conservation tillage and no-till. The survey also showed that large landowners are more likely to have implemented BMPs than small landowners.
- About half of farmer-respondents soil test according to state recommendations. Economic concerns and time were primary obstacles to not testing. Twenty-four percent of corn growers, 23 percent of soybean growers and 23 percent of wheat growers cited test costs as a reason they don’t soil test.
“These survey results show that many farmers are actively engaged in conservation—in fact, conservation tillage was the most adopted practice among row crop producers,” said Scanlon. “We also have a clear picture about why some producers are not choosing conservation practices. That’s important because now we can better address their concerns and work to overcome those barriers.”
Not only has the survey generated attention for conservation agriculture, there is also significant interest from other stakeholders.The first state-specific surveys will be conducted in March and April with Indiana and Illinois producers and will again be a partnership effort with TFI, Indiana Soybean Alliance and Illinois Corn Growers Association. Indiana and Illinois producers are encouraged to participate and document their conservation efforts. Says Scanlon, “By collecting the same information on a state level, CTIC can identify which practices are most widely adopted and also address barriers to adoption within each state and region. We will be able to assist producers in addressing the specific challenges they face at the local level.”
CTIC members and partners are invited to contact CTIC and explore possible partnerships and funding for additional surveys. Data from state surveys will provide an even better representation of BMP adoption trends and improve our understanding of where and how farmers are applying conservation on the ground.
To participate in the 10 minute survey, visit CTIC’s Web site, www.conservationinformation.org, and click the link, “Indiana Farmers Take BMP Survey.”
To review results of the national survey, click here.
