Iowa Farm Research Articles

Co-occurrence of antimicrobials and metals as potential drivers of antimicrobial resistance in swine farms

The application of animal manures to cropland is an important nutrient recycling strategy in many parts of the world. Commonly, aggregated manure wastes contain chemical stressors including veterinary antimicrobials, heavy metals, and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) that can stimulate the development and proliferation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). While the presence of antimicrobials in manure is well-documented, the co-occurrence of other potentially impactful chemical stressors in swine manure remains underreported. This study quantifies and analyzes correlations between antimicrobials, metals, and certain ARGs present in manure samples from swine farms in Iowa, United States. Relationships between chemical stressors and different stages of swine production or feed composition are also investigated. Results revealed substantial levels of tetracyclines [up to 1,260 µg g−1 dry weight (d.w.) of manure for oxytetracycline] detected in all samples. Tiamulin, two ionophores (monensin and lasalocid), and one macrolide (tilmicosin) were detected at maximum class concentrations of 9.4, 0.547, and 0.472 µg g−1 d.w., respectively. The median relative abundances of ermB and tetM were 0.13 and 0.17 copies g−1 wet weight (w.w.) manure (normalized to 16S gene), respectively. Additionally, high levels of copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) were detected in all samples, with maximum concentrations of 887, 1,900, and 2,100 µg g−1 d.w., respectively. Notably, uranium (U) was detected in 11 samples, at concentrations up to 0.77 µg g−1. A global analysis of AMR-stressor relationships using Spearman’s rank correlation indicates Cu, and Ba are the most positively and significantly correlated with cytotoxic anhydrotetracycline (ATC) and/or anhydrochlortetracycline (ACTC) concentrations in all tested facilities (Cu-ATC: ρ = 0.67, p = 0.0093; Cu-ACTC: ρ = 0.75, p = 0.0022; Ba-ATC: ρ = 0.84, p = 0.0002). Interestingly, ermB and tetM genes were strongly, positively correlated to each other (ρ = 0.92, p < 0.0001), suggesting possible co-selection, despite the absence of correlation between ARGs and tetracycline concentrations. This study demonstrates the complexity of interactions between antimicrobials, metals, and ARGs in multiple manure storage pits prior to cropland application.

Motivations and Challenges for Adoption of Organic Grain Production: A Qualitative Study of Iowa Organic Farmers.

Organic grains are essential for the organic food industry. In the U.S., low adoption of organic grain farming has constrained further development of the organic food sector. Organic food industry stakeholders have appealed to producers to increase domestic organic grain production. The U.S. federal government supports research and extension education regarding organic farming. In this context, there is a need for both agricultural researchers and extension professionals to further (1) examine the factors that motivate farmers to adopt organic grain farming and (2) identify the challenges that hinder farmers' adoption of organic grain farming. We conducted 17 in-depth interviews with organic grain farmers in Iowa, USA. By applying multiple social-behavioral theories as part of the analysis and comparing interview results with the literature, we gained insight into the ways in which farmers formed adoption motivations, and we captured the dynamics of the motivations. We specifically identified challenges to adoption that were associated with organic farming operation and management, organic market accessibility, information and inputs availability, social tension, and level of support from the government. These findings shed light on the ways in which farmers' adoption challenges have evolved with institutional, ecological, and technological changes over time and how contemporary research and extension may encourage adoption.

Farm Crisis/Identity Crisis: Letters from 1980s Iowa

Abstract The Farm Crisis of the 1980s was not just an economic crisis, but an identity crisis for the two-thirds of Iowa farm families that risked losing their livelihoods. Confronted with a situation that was well outside of their control, they sent thousands of letters to government officials, asking for, and sometimes demanding, answers. Many of those letters expressed puzzlement, anger, and disappointment as writers tried to explain how the hopes and dreams of a lifetime had slipped through their grasp. They expressed deep frustration with politicians, consumers, and even other farmers who did not understand or sympathize with the stresses imposed by markets, environmental forces, and government policy that first encouraged borrowing and expansion, and then punished those who had followed that advice. Although the Reagan administration eventually responded, it was not before a significant number of farmers had left, or been removed from, their land.

Reflections on the 1980s and After: An Interview by Pamela Riney-Kehrberg with Paul Lasley and David Ostendorf, February 24, 2022

Paul lasley and david ostendorf were crucial participants in Iowa's response to the Farm Crisis of the 1980s. Paul Lasley had just finished his PhD and a postdoc in rural sociology at the University of Missouri when he came to Iowa State University. He worked on many projects that helped farmers cope with the decade's troubles, and often mediated between competing groups in his position with Iowa State Cooperative Extension. He was the founding editor of the Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, which gathered important evidence of the effects of the crisis at the ground level. Rev. David Ostendorf came to Iowa as part of the advocacy group Rural America. He arrived thinking he would be working on rural housing issues, but quickly found himself working with embattled farmers. When Rural America dissolved, he founded and headed PrairieFire, one of the decade's most important activist agricultural organizations, which demanded and provided aid to distressed farmers. Lasley has recently retired after forty years in Extension and rural sociology at Iowa State. Ostendorf continues to be a minister in the United Church of Christ, as well as organizing on issues of social, economic, and racial justice.In an hourlong conversation, the two of them reflected on their experience of the 1980s, the changes that have happened in agriculture and rural communities in the decades since, and the importance of history.

The Sustainability Crisis . . . Again

The Sustainability Crisis . . . Again

Eubacterium coprostanoligenes and Methanoculleus identified as potential producers of metabolites that contribute to swine manure foaming.

Swine manure foaming is a major problem, causing damage to property, livestock, and people. Here, we identified the main chemicals and microbes that contribute to foaming. Foaming and non-foaming swine manure were sampled from farms in Iowa and Illinois. Targeted and untargeted metabolomics analyses identified chemical markers that differed between foaming and non-foaming manure and between manure layers. Microbial community analysis and metagenomics were performed on a subset of samples. Foam contained significantly higher levels of total bile acids and long chain fatty acids like palmitic, stearic and oleic acid than the other manure layers. Foam layers also had significantly higher levels of ubiquinone 9 and ubiquinone 10. The slurry layer of foaming samples contained more alanine, isoleucine/leucine, diacylglycerols (DG), phosphtatidylethanolamines, and vitamin K2, while ceramide was significantly increased in the slurry layer of non-foaming samples. Eubacterium coprostanoligenes and Methanoculleus were more abundant in foaming samples, and E. coprostanoligenes was significantly correlated with levels of DG. Genes involved in diacylglycerol biosynthesis and in the biosynthesis of branched-chain hydrophobic amino acids were overrepresented in foaming samples. A mechanism for manure foaming is hypothesized in which proliferation of Methanoculleus leads to excessive production of methane, while production of DG by E. coprostanoligenes and hydrophobic proteins by Methanosphaera stadtmanae facilitates bubble formation and stabilization. While some chemical and biological treatments have been developed to treat swine manure foaming, its causes remain unknown. We identified key microbes and metabolites that correlate with foaming and point to possible roles of other factors like animal feed.

Innovative Cohort Process to Minimize COVID-19 Infection for Migrant Farmworkers During Travel to Iowa.

Background: Migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFW) experience disproportionate infection, severe disease and death from COVID-19. This report describes an innovative process to address the safety of MSFW that utilized cohorting that eventually allowed for safe release to work in the fields on a large family farm in Iowa. Methods: Upon worker departure from Mexico, the employer arranged for bus seat assignments, mask use, and hand hygiene practice during the 3-day trip to Iowa. Upon arrival at the farm, surveillance testing and low-density housing cohorting based upon travel seat assignments allowed for early identification of infected workers and appropriate quarantine as per CDC guidelines. Upon completion of isolation or quarantine as appropriate, workers were released to congregate housing and work in the fields. Findings: Compared to a migrant farmworker COVID-19 outbreak without travel pre-planning, the cohorting process produced a 3.5% positivity rate compared to an earlier season July farmworker group on the same farm with a 12.7% positivity rate. Conclusions/Application to Practice: The success of this model points to the power of collaboration between farm employer, health care providers and workers to minimize worker infection and enable safe work in the fields. Increased state and federal support for MSFW protections could support infrastructure to proactively plan for prevention mechanisms to prevent the spread of known communicable disease. With support in place from the top down, employers, workers, and health care providers will be able to prioritize the management of infectious diseases and the needs of essential workers.

Heat Treatment for Disinfecting Egg Transport Tools

HighlightsDisinfecting shell egg transport tools before their reuse is an integral biosecurity step.Avian influenza viruses are heat labile and it can be disinfected with high temperatures.Lab tests proved that egg transport flats and pallets can be heated to 54°C to 60°C in 7 to 9 h.Egg farm tests identified main factors for consideration in designing heat treatment system.Abstract.Disinfecting shell egg transport tools such as egg flats and pallets before their reuse has become an integral biosecurity step after the 2015 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in the United States. Lab-scale tests and field verification were conducted to investigate dynamic temperature changes and distributions inside stacks of egg pallet and flat at a surrounding air temperature of 54°C to 60°C (130ºF to 140ºF) in this study. The heat treatment tests were conducted in the lab first, and then verified in a newly built heat treatment room [12 m (L) × 4 m (W) × 3 m (H)] on a commercial laying hen farm in Iowa, the largest egg production state in the United States. Iowa lost more than 30 million hens during 2015 outbreak of HPAI. The lab tests proved that air circulation with fans could accelerate the heat exchange between air and stacks; blowing air from top and bottom at the same time plus arranging a 2.5 cm (1 in.) space between stacks could reduce the heat treatment time for the target temperature zone (i.e., 54ºC to 60ºC) from 26 to 60 h (without air circulation) to 7 to 9 h. For commercial egg farm tests, heat treatment results show that the room air and egg pallet stacks temperature reached the target zone (54ºC to 60ºC) in 30 min and 4 h after starting the heater, respectively. However, the temperature of egg flat stacks failed to reach the targeted zone after 8 h heating, because it had larger volume and heat transfer resistance as compared to egg pallet stacks. Further experiments such as extending heating period and installing mixing fans to accelerate heat exchange between the room air and the stacks are suggested for improving heat treatment system design on commercial farms. Keywords: Avian influenza, Disinfection, Egg flat and pallet, Egg production.

Can Native Plants Mitigate Climate-related Forage Dearth for Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)?

Extreme weather events, like high temperatures and droughts, are predicted to become common with climate change, and may negatively impact plant growth. How honey bees (Apis mellifera L. [Hymenoptera: Apidae]) will respond to this challenge is unclear, especially when collecting pollen, their primary source of protein, lipids, and micro-nutrients. We explored this response with a data set from multiple research projects that measured pollen collected by honey bees during 2015–2017 in which above-average temperatures and a drought occurred in 2017. We summarized the abundance and diversity of pollen collected from July to September in replicated apiaries kept at commercial soybean and corn farms in Iowa, in the Midwestern USA. The most commonly collected pollen was from clover (Trifolium spp. [Fabales: Fabaceae]), which dramatically declined in absolute and relative abundance in July 2017 during a period of high temperatures and drought. Due to an apparent lack of clover, honey bees switched to the more drought-tolerant native species (e.g., Chamaecrista fasciculata [Michx.] Greene [Fabales: Fabaceae], Dalea purpurea Vent. [Fabales: Fabaceae], Solidago spp. [Asterales: Asteraceae]), and several species of Asteraceae. This was especially noticeable in August 2017 when C. fasciculata dominated (87%) and clover disappeared from bee-collected pollen. We discuss the potential implications of climate-induced forage dearth on honey bee nutritional health. We also compare these results to a growing body of literature on the use of native, perennial flowering plants found in Midwestern prairies for the conservation of beneficial insects. We discuss the potential for drought resistant-native plants to potentially promote resilience to climate change for the non-native, managed honey bee colonies in the United States.

Farmer identities influence wildlife habitat management in the US Corn Belt

Abstract Farmer wildlife management practices are critical to conserve biodiversity and ecosystem functions across intensively used agricultural landscapes. Policies and initiatives aimed at encouraging these practices have generally focused on economic incentives, with limited effectiveness. Farmer identity theory addresses the emergence of norms, values and perceptions in farm management and can contribute to the development of policies and initiatives that engage more effectively with farmers and farming communities. Here we evaluate linkages between farmer identity and wildlife habitat management practices in the intensively farmed US state of Iowa. We conducted an exploratory factor analysis using data from a survey of over 1,300 Iowa farmers that asked their opinions on what constitutes ‘a good farmer’. We use logistic regression to model relationships between farmer identity factor scores and contextual variables against participation in a set of habitat management practices. Four ‘good farmer’ identity types were identified and labelled as productivist, soil conservationist, wildlife conservationist and civic‐minded. Logistic regression results indicated that these farmer identity types have highly divergent responses to wildlife habitat management practices among Iowa farmers. Recreational factors may supplement identity and are also influential towards habitat production on farms. We conclude that farmer identity theory offers a critical link between social and ecological processes on Iowa farms. The research presented here quantitatively associates farmer identity theory with wildlife habitat management, increasing our understanding of how wildlife habitat practices and individual‐level farmer identities interact. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

Adoption challenges, needs for extension programming, and program delivery formats for organic grain producers in the U.S. Corn Belt

ABSTRACT This study surveyed 258 organic grain farmers in Iowa in the U.S. Midwest. We identified seven areas of challenges related to organic grain farming adoption: organic farming operations, marketing, policy, finance, inputs and information, social pressures, and land tenure. Respondents reported three key areas where extension programs were needed: education, research, and technical services. Regarding outreach formats, organic farmers preferred events where peers were featured or provided leadership, such as field days, one-on-one mentor programs, and farmer-to-farmer workshops. Results provided empirical evidence to support theoretical discussions and policy implications on issues related to adoption of organic grain farming.

277 Swine Producer Identities: Understanding Perceptions of a Good Producer

Abstract Studies on the social-psychological framework known as farmer identity have been conducted in the US, EU, and Australia. The focus of these studies is on understanding how farmer beliefs (i.e. Identities) translate into on-farm practices. For example, in 2015, Iowa farmers were surveyed and four identities emerged when asked which items were important to being a “Good Farmer.” Those identities were used to predict the support of soil and/or water policies in the state. Here, for the first time, we explore the identities of livestock producers. Specifically, Pennsylvania swine producer identities. Data were collected as part of a state-wide biosecurity survey. Eighty-four respondents answered some part of the survey, while 50 respondents completed all 31 items of the “Good Producer” question. Principal components analysis (PCA) was used to explore producer perception of a good producer (i.e. producer identities). Using the Kaiser-Meyer-Okin Measure (KMO=0.532) and Barrtlett’s Test of Sphericity (sig. = 0.000) we determined PCA results to be acceptable for exploratory purposes. Five producer identities (friendly conservationist, civically-savvy, willing naturalist, productivist, and appearance-minded) were identified, explaining 58.15% of the variance in these data. Reliability analysis confirmed the strength of items defining each component (i.e. identity). These identities are being used in discussion with PA swine producers to understand how producers self-identify. These identities will be used to predict whether a producer has a formal biosecurity plan written.

Nutrient capture in an Iowa farm pond: Insights from high-frequency observations

Shallow constructed ponds are abundant landscape features in the midwestern United States, suggested as an edge of field best management practice (BMP) in voluntary nutrient reduction strategies. The efficacy of such features is highly uncertain, however, and previous studies have lacked sufficient temporal resolution to determine N and P removals during critical periods of transport. We utilized high-frequency in-situ measurements and flow-weighted grab sampling to determine water and nutrient budgets for a typical constructed “farm pond” in central Iowa situated within the Iowa Southern Drift Plain. Our monitoring approach yielded insight into in-stream nitrogen processing and the relative importance of transport-vs. supply-limited N delivery. Diel patterns in NO3–N observed during early Spring, prior to canopy closure, revealed that in-stream primary production and NO3–N assimilation can influence downstream N delivery in a stream with nitrate pollution (mean annual NO3–N of nearly 5 mg/L). Analysis of discharge-concentration hysteresis for NO3–N showed a shift from transport to supply limitation for NO3–N delivery over the growing season, influenced by antecedent moisture, with wet antecedent conditions leading to supply limitation.Significant NO3–N removal (64% of 19.8 kg/ha inputs) occurred within the 4.2 ha pond (230 ha watershed), but total N removal was much lower (36% removal of 22.3 kg/ha inputs). The lower total N removal highlights the importance of both particulate N and dissolved organic N and ammonia export to the N budgets of hypereutrophic small ponds. Total P removal in the pond was only 8% of 2.3 kg/ha inputs, likely due to internal loading of recent and legacy sedimentary P within the pond. High-flow events dominated N and P inputs, during which removal efficacy of the pond was significantly diminished. Poor process performance during critical moments may partially explain lower than expected water quality improvements post-BMP implementation. Accordingly, shifting hydroclimatic regimes (e.g., frequency of intense rainfall events) will impact the efficacy of small ponds and other edge of field BMPs for nutrient reduction.

Microbial assemblages and methanogenesis pathways impact methane production and foaming in manure deep-pit storages.

Foam accumulation in swine manure deep-pits has been linked to explosions and flash fires that pose devastating threats to humans and livestock. It is clear that methane accumulation within these pits is the fuel for the fire; it is not understood what microbial drivers cause the accumulation and stabilization of methane. Here, we conducted a 13-month field study to survey the physical, chemical, and biological changes of pit-manure across 46 farms in Iowa. Our results showed that an increased methane production rate was associated with less digestible feed ingredients, suggesting that diet influences the storage pit's microbiome. Targeted sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA and archaeal mcrA genes was used to identify microbial communities' role and influence. We found that microbial communities in foaming and non-foaming manure were significantly different, and that the bacterial communities of foaming manure were more stable than those of non-foaming manure. Foaming manure methanogen communities were enriched with uncharacterized methanogens whose presence strongly correlated with high methane production rates. We also observed strong correlations between feed ration, manure characteristics, and the relative abundance of specific taxa, suggesting that manure foaming is linked to microbial community assemblage driven by efficient free long-chain fatty acid degradation by hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis.

Understanding Factors Influencing Farmers' Engagement in Watershed Management Activities

Studies have pointed to a positive relationship between farmers' active engagement in watershed management (WM) and soil and water conservation practice adoption. If farmers' involvement in WM leads to more conservation, what predicts WM participation? This study seeks to answer that question through binomial logistic regression analysis of data from a survey of 6,006 Iowa farmers conducted to support the implementation of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (NRS). Results indicate that public and private sector information sources, awareness of and attitudes regarding nutrient loss reduction strategies, farm contiguity to water bodies, and cost-share and technical assistance were positive predictors of farmers' engagement in WM, while lower agronomic self-efficacy, farm press as an information source, greater age, and higher farm sales were negative. Findings point to several potential actions to improve farmer involvement in WM: (1) more effectively engage with the farm press to disseminate information about the benefits of WM, (2) increase outreach to larger-scale farmers, and (3) focus on nutrient loss management capacity building. Further, a continued emphasis on awareness and attitudes related to the NRS and related actions, such as watershed management, may guide efforts to recruit farmers into watershed groups to help improve soil and water conservation outcomes.

Examining Factors Associated With Farmers' Climate-Adaptive and Maladaptive Actions in the U.S. Midwest

The U.S. Midwest is a major producer of grain, meat, dairy, eggs, and other major agricultural commodities. It has also been increasingly impacted by climate change-related extreme weather over the last decade as droughts, extreme rains, floods, and, most recently, a severe derecho have damaged crops, livestock, and livelihoods. Climate and agricultural scientists and other stakeholders are concerned that without major shifts away from degrading practices toward regenerative systems, long-term sustainability will be compromised. We used cumulative logistic regression to analyze data from a 2020 survey of 1,059 Iowa farmers to examine (1) how farmers are adapting to increasingly variable and extreme weather-related to climate change and (2) whether selected factors were associated with different kinds of adaptive (e.g., increased use of cover crops) or potentially maladaptive (e.g., increased use of pesticides) actions. Our results found that many farmers have been taking adaptive and maladaptive actions. Stewardship ethics, attitudes toward adaptive action, and integration in conservation-related networks were consistent, positive predictors of increases in adaptive practices. On the other hand, faith in crop insurance as a coping strategy, farm scale, and other factors were associated with some maladaptive actions, with several positive predictors of adaptation also being positive predictors of maladaptation, use of pesticides and drainage in particular. This research contributes to the growing literature on climate risk management and adaptation in agricultural landscapes by providing empirical evidence of the factors related to farmers' adaptive and maladaptive actions.

Complete Coding Genome Sequence of a Novel Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus 2 Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism 1-4-4 Lineage 1C Variant Identified in Iowa, USA.

ABSTRACTA porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus 2 strain was identified in lung samples from nursery piglets associated with a 17.15% mortality rate on a swine farm in Iowa. Open reading frame 5 (ORF5) sequencing indicated that this strain is a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) 1-4-4 lineage 1C variant strain, and its complete coding genome sequence was determined.

Motivations, goals, and benefits associated with organic grain farming by producers in Iowa, U.S.

CONTEXTThe U.S. has the world's largest organic food market. However, low domestic production and a low adoption rate of organic grain farming limit the overall development of this sector. Multiple organic stakeholders have called for a better understanding of cognitive and motivational aspects of farmers' decision-making processes to help policymakers, agricultural scientists, and extension practitioners to work more effectively with farmers to explore and adopt organic grain production. OBJECTIVEThis paper assesses farmers' adoption motivations, long-term goals, and perceived benefits to examine the congruence between initial motivations, long-term goals, and current perceived benefits. METHODSWe employed a sequential mixed-method approach that first interviewed organic farmers in Iowa, U.S. Then developed and administered a statewide survey for the organic farmers. Survey data were analyzed with confirmatory factor analysis, paired-samples t-tests, and heteroskedasticity-robust regression models. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSWe identified five highly-rated motivations for farmers to adopt organic grain: 1) profitability, 2) personal safety, 3) natural resources stewardship, 4) consumers and public health, and 5) honor and tradition. We found organic farmers' long-term goals are strongly orientated to both productivism and stewardship but less strongly oriented to civic-mindedness. This research assessed five areas of benefits associated with organic grain farming: 1) economic benefit, 2) addressed health concerns, 3) environmental natural resources, 4) values and beliefs validation, and 5) social benefit. This study found the benefits farmers experienced by adopting organic grain farming aligned with most of their original adoption motivations and long-term goals, except for serving the motivation of consumer and public health concerns. SIGNIFICANCEBy understanding the relative importance of the roles that different types of motivations play in farmers' decisions to adopt organic grain farming, policymakers and agricultural extension practitioners can strategically design effective policies and programs to encourage more U.S. farmers to consider raising organic grains to fulfill the market demand. Our findings deepen our understanding of how organic farmers synergizes the competing goal orientations into organic farming practices. This study also fills a gap in the literature that lacks understanding of farmers' perceived benefits of organic farming after adoption. By examining the relationships among farmers' adoption motivations, goal orientations, and adoption benefits, we can conclude that organic grain farming is working well for farmers, suggesting that further promotion and support for transition to organic grain farming is socially desirable.

Needs Assessment for Corn Insect Pest Management in Iowa

AbstractCorn, Zea mays L. (Cyperales: Poaceae), production is essential to Iowa’s economy and provides food, feed, and fuel beyond the state. Farmers face a number of challenges in corn production, including insect pests, and understanding farmers’ perceptions and concerns is critical for extension personnel to provide adequate and relevant programming. The Iowa State University Agriculture and Natural Resources Crops Team conducted a survey of Iowa farmers and agribusiness professionals during the 2019–2020 extension season. The goal was to understand farmer perceptions of corn pests and whether farmers experienced challenges with resistance to Bt traits or insecticides. Additionally, we aimed to realize farmers’ confidence in developing resistance management plans and discussing those needs with their input suppliers and advisors. Our survey revealed that northern corn rootworm, Diabrotica barberi Smith & Lawrence (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), was the pest of greatest concern across the state. People were generally more concerned about belowground Bt trait performance than aboveground traits, though only 12% of respondents reported Bt trait failure for corn rootworms. In general, people were not concerned about the performance of seed treatments or soil- or foliar-applied insecticides. Farmers generally felt very confident in developing a resistance management plan and discussing their needs with their advisors. The results of this survey will be used to target extension programming throughout the state and increase confidence for farmers and agribusiness employees to discuss resistance management plans together.

Conservation plans and soil and water conservation practice use: Evidence from Iowa

Conservation planning is the primary tool the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) uses to help farmers manage and protect the nation’s soil, water, air, plant, animal, energy, and human natural resources on privately owned lands. While research studies have investigated a multitude of factors that could possibly influence farmer adoption of conservation practices, no recent research exists examining the relationship between having an NRCS conservation plan and the likelihood of applying conservation practices on the ground. This is surprising given that conservation planning is considered to be the foundation for USDA’s technical and financial assistance to agricultural landowners, and recently both the updated NRCS Strategic Plan and the National Conservation Planning Partnership emphasized the need to enhance and expand conservation planning. In this study we analyzed data from 792 respondents of the 2015 and 2016 collection periods of a panel survey of Iowa farmers to examine the relationship between having an NRCS conservation plan and farmers’ implementation of 10 soil and water conservation practices in four categories: (1) soil health, (2) nitrogen (N) management, (3) structural practices, and (4) cropland converted to perennial crops. The results indicate that farmers who reported having an NRCS conservation plan are significantly more likely to have implemented two conservation practices: no-till and terraces. In addition, there was a significant relationship between the number of times a farmer visited a USDA Service Center for conservation and the likelihood they implemented 5 of the 10 selected practices, particularly in the soil health and structural practice categories. These results suggest that it is not the plan itself, but rather the sustained interaction with natural resource professionals, that makes a difference in the use of conservation practices. Implications of the study results for NRCS conservation planning moving forward in the future are discussed.