Hanna (Rosman) Bates and J. Gordon Arbuckle Jr.

I Just Call It Practical Economics – Survival Economics: Understanding Nutrient Management

for Improved Conservation

Background & Overview• Iowa Agriculture Economy

• Intensive agriculture is an ecologically leaky system

• Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia and local water impairments

• Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy

Shortcomings

• Current efforts emphasize external incentives

• Research in support of mainstream conservation programming has shortcomings (Lockeretz 1990, Prokopy et al 2008)

• Suggested pathways for research: education, social networks, and contextual factors (Lockeretz 1990, Prokopy et al. 2008)

Photo by Jeff Caldwell. Agriculture.com http://www.agriculture.com/news/crops/cn-belt-soil-erosion-wries-continue_2-ar24162

Background LiteratureTemporal and cultural aspects of conservation adoption•Family culture is a mediating factor to agroecological health of farms (Salamon 1985, Salamon 1992, Salamon 1995, Salamon et al 1997)

Family Farm Contextual Factors & Agrarianism• Factors:

• Economic

• Ecological

• Social

Stewardship Ethic

•“the responsible use (including conservation) of natural resources in a way that takes full and balanced account of the interests of society, future generations, and other species, as well as of private needs, and accepts significant answerability to society” (Worrell and Appleby 1999, p. 269).

Research Question:

For farmers who are exemplary stewards of the land, what are the motivations and rationale for the nutrient management strategies they implement on their farms?

Iowa Farm Environmental Leadership Award

• Established in 2012

• Award program in support of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy

• Recognize family farms that are exemplary stewards of the land

• Recipients are oriented as role models for how others can incorporate conservation in their operations

Image from the Iowa Department of Agriculture. Web. http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/EnvironmentalLeader.asp

Methods• In-depth interviews occurred during summer/fall 2014

• 28 farmers on 20 farm operations

• Sample from: recipients of the Iowa Farm Environmental Leadership Award

• Interview objectives:

• Motivations

• Challenges and opportunities

• Attitudes and beliefs regarding environmental stewardship

• Purposive Sampling Strategy

• Locate models of conservation behavior

Image from the Iowa Department of Agriculture. Web. http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/EnvironmentalLeader.asp

Theoretical Framework

Thematic Area Definition Summary

Economic Economic resilience conceptualizes limits of farm economics (scale) and emphasizes discipline in the financial approach to land management.

Long-term economic viability of the farm involves considering a number of trade-offs, including yield maximization in favor of soil longevity.

Farmers prioritize investing in the quality of the land over new equipment and other farm assets.  Conservation practices is emphasized by farmers as both a cost savings and an investment for future productivity.

For farmers who are exemplary stewards of the land, what are the motivations and rationale for the nutrient management strategies they implement on their farms?

“I think we’re doing a better job than most folks. I think we’re doing a better job on nutrient management, I think we’re doing a better job in soil management. Now other people may say, ‘yeah, you’re not doing good making money.’ They may be right, but it comes back to here (refers to the mission statement of the farm). [That’s] what’s important to us.” (Farmers 13)

Economic…

“You look at some of my equipment here, I mean, the tractors aren’t maybe the fanciest, but they do the same job as a tractor that cost three times as much. I guess I’d rather – and I’m not picking on people who have newer equipment – I’m just saying that I’d rather put my money and resources towards the things that are going to help me conserve the land, you know, like terraces, waterways, filter strips.” (Farmer 1)

Economic…

Thematic Area Definition Summary

Ecological Different systems operate at different speeds – larger scale agroecological improvements are a slow process.

Ecological resilience is farmers being vigilant of the natural resources they have (stocks) and what leaves their farm (flows).

Farmers recognize that conservation is a long-term system while intensive agricultural production is a short-term system.  Farmers recognize that soil health has a complementary relationship with the quality and quantity of crop yields.  Ecological integrity significantly overlaps with economic aspects of the farm.

Ecological…

Farmer 17: So many people are just looking at the bottom line. What can I do – for the biggest return on investment? You know, throw tons of fertilizer out there, not use precision and just you know throw money at the problem, I’ll say. It’s all about profitability. What would you say?

Farmer 18: Yeah, I would agree. They haven’t really stepped back and taken a look at you know what are we doing to our ground for the future as well as now? Are we saying the soil is important or are we just doing what we need to do to make a profit? Mindset.

Thematic Area Definition Summary

Social Farmers’ belief that agriculture is the center of family life where young are socialized and educated in the value of farming and the core ethics of the family farm operation.

Farming as an occupational choice is valued for its inherent worth, in which it is “in the blood,” enabled through socialization to farming. Farmers’ relationships with their father, grandfather, and children have strong ties to the activity of the farm economics and farm management decisions.  

Social…

The goal for Farmer 13’s operation is to be:

“An enjoyable, profitable family farm that builds on our heritage and creates a lasting family legacy… [To] be an efficient model grain producer that maximizes profit while improving the health and quality of soil, one that others look to for innovation and ideas.” (Farmer 13)

Conclusion & Future Directions

• Conservation has different meanings depending on time and the systems farmers are navigating

• Building farm resilience is a core consideration in farm management

• Family contextual factors mediate the relationship between short-term and long-term goals for farm operation resilience

• Research should give more attention to contextual factors for long-term conservation adoption to achieve Iowa NRS goals

Hanna (Rosman) BatesIowa State University

hannatbates@gmail.comTwitter: @hannatbates

Thank you!