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USDA seeks on-farm conservation practices information

Farmers are being asked to share information about their on-farm conservation practices.

Gregg Bussler with USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service office in Wisconsin tells Brownfield the Conservation Practice Motivation Survey is a joint effort with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. “NRCS is interested in assessing adoption rates of different conservation practices so that they can see which ones farmers are adopting and what are the hindrances to adoption. Is it technical information not being available? Is it the cost? Is it financing?”

Bussler says the agency sent out questionnaires last spring but has extended the deadline, and there are two different versions of the survey. “We’re targeting those that have at least a tenth of an acre of cropland or those farmers that have confined livestock facilities.”

Bussler says NRCS plans to use the information to evaluate how to improve its conservation programs and get more farmers involved.  He says they need more farmer responses to general questions about cover crops, tillage, and other on-farm efforts.  The surveys can be completed online.