Social Science of Ag Conservation

Research questions about the adoption of agricultural conservation practices have been extensively studied in a certain segment of the social sciences. These studies have looked into things such as which farmers are more likely to adopt conservation practices, why farmers are more or less likely to adopt, and how to promote adoption. Understanding the factors that influence conservation practice adoption, and applying insights from this research, is critical to improving our impaired ecosystems and sustaining agricultural productivity. While the physical sciences provide evidence of how these practices impact soil health and water quality, the social sciences can offer insights that guide the development of policies and programs that lead to better outcomes for farmers and our shared environment. 

Demographics

Social science studies almost always include demographics, which are identifiable features of a person, such as their age, gender, level of education, etc.  Many studies have been conducted that use big datasets such as the Ag Census to understand which demographic groups of farmers are more likely to adopt conservation practices. Variables in these studies include common identifiable features (i.e. age, gender, level of education) with a combination of other potentially relevant factors to examine whether anything is associated with higher levels of conservation practice adoption. Meta-analyses of these kinds of studies have found few demographic variables significantly associated with the adoption of agricultural conservation practices¹. One of these social factors that has consistently been found across multiple studies is that farmers with higher levels of formal education are more likely to adopt conservation practices¹. Demographic studies tell us who is adopting conservation, but alone they do not tell us why or how to encourage more adoption. 

Attitudes, Perceptions, and Beliefs

The attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs of farmers and landowners is another common topic investigated in studies about the adoption of conservation practices. It may come as no surprise that meta-analyses have shown that farmers with "pro-environmental" attitudes and who think positively about a particular program or practice are more likely to adopt conservation.¹ However, the formation of one's attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs is complex and may not reliably predict how a person behaves in practice. Social science research on farmers and the adoption of conservation practices highlights the dynamic relationship between individual decision-making, economic constraints, and social influences. For example, one recent study by Gao and Arbuckle (2024) found a link between a farmer's job satisfaction and their stewardship motivations.² These types of studies help us get to the root of why some farmers might be more or less inclined to adopt practices, which may point to surprising avenues for future engagement strategies or policy reform. 

Networking, Engagement, and Interventions

The strongest evidence found in meta-analyses for increasing farmer adoption for conservation practices is financial incentives.³ However, many studies paint a more complicated picture that goes beyond monetary compensation. Agricultural conservation professionals may use different kinds of engagement strategies to promote conservation practices with farmers.⁴ Farmers may benefit from the experiences of early adopters in peer networks to learn about implementing practices. They may need time to trial a practice before committing to adopting it on a wider scale. These considerations are some examples of how social science studies are increasingly understanding the adoption of conservation practices as a process, rather than as a binary option of 'do-or-do-not-have practice.' 

Continuing Research

Research on the topic of agricultural conservation continues to ask important questions that have the potential to guide the development of policies and reshape our agroecological systems. Economists continue to explore which forms of financial and voluntary incentives are most effective in promoting adoption. As new federal and state policies and programs are being implemented, demographic studies can track adoption trends across a wide variety of variables. Concurrently, researchers are examining adoption in various local contexts, across different practice types, and through diverse engagement strategies. However, despite these efforts, there remains a significant gap in understanding the roles and experiences of the professionals who work directly with farmers to implement conservation practices. By furthering our understanding of agricultural communities, social science research on conservation will be key to ensuring that these efforts are both practical and lasting.

References

1. Prokopy, L. S., K. Floress, J. G. Arbuckle, S. P. Church, F. R. Eanes, Y. Gao, B. M. Gramig, P. Ranjan, and A. S. Singh. 2019. "Adoption of Agricultural Conservation Practices in the United States: Evidence from 35 Years of Quantitative Literature." Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 74(5):520–34. doi:10.2489/jswc.74.5.520.
2. Gao, Lijing, and J. G. Arbucke. 2024. "What's Good for the Land Is Good for the Farmer: Investigating Conservation-Related Variables as Predictors of Farmers' Job Satisfaction." Rural Sociology 89(2):311–34.
3. Read, Daniel J., and Lisa Wainger. 2023. "Assessing Intervention Effectiveness at Promoting Voluntary Conservation Practice Adoption in Agrienvironments." Conservation Biology 37(1):e14009. doi:10.1111/cobi.14009.
4. Read, Daniel J., Erika Blair, and Lisa Wainger. 2024. "Effective Engagement Techniques Across the Agricultural Conservation Practice Adoption Process." Environmental Management 74(6):1173–89. doi:10.1007/s00267-024-02043-8.