Survey reveals key insights on Farm Conservation Practices
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison recently published two research briefs shedding light on Midwestern farmers’ perspectives regarding farm financial programs and conservation practices.
The study, which surveys 527 farmers across eight Midwestern states, aims to inform policy decisions by summarizing these views on programs supporting crop and livestock insurance, loans, and conservation efforts.
“Billions of dollars from the U.S. Farm Bill support farming in the form of crop and livestock insurance, loans and conservation cost-share programs. We wanted to know how farmers view these programs, and which farmers perceive these programs as most helpful and satisfactory,” says Adena Rissman, professor in the Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, who led the development of the two research briefs. “The goal is to provide information that can help guide the development and improvement of our nation’s policies in these areas.”
The survey, developed in 2023, was sent to 3,215 farm owners in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
With a 16% response rate, the study provides insight into the varied support for different farming operations.
Yu Lu, a graduate student who assisted in the survey design and analysis, noted, "Different farmers perceive different levels of support...while insurance, loans, and cost-share programs are widely viewed as helpful for row crop operations, farmers with forage and livestock operations see fewer benefits."
"The conservation survey results show that farmers are clearly prioritizing soil and water conservation," Rissman remarked. However, there was less adoption of pollinator and tree planting practices, indicating areas where additional support could be beneficial.
Key findings from the financial program research include:
- 79% of row crop farmers found crop insurance helpful, compared to just 30% of grass-based livestock farmers.
- 62% of farmers supported income caps for crop insurance, and 53% favored reducing paperwork burdens.
- 65% of farmers called for lower interest rates on loans.
In terms of conservation:
- 85% of farmers practiced conservation tillage.
- 66% expressed concerns over declining pollinators.
- 92% were highly concerned with farm profitability.
This research was funded by the National Science Foundation. You can find more details in the full reports at https://rissman.russell.wisc.edu/2024-farmer-survey-farm-financial-programs/ and https://rissman.russell.wisc.edu/midwest-farmer-perspectives-on-conservation/.
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