U.S. Farmers' Values Associated with Potential to Adopt Best Management Practices and Impact of Socio-psychological Development on Decision-making Processes

Abstract

United States (U.S.) farmers are working to increase agricultural yield production to meet commodity demands, while considering the environmental impacts of their management practices. To reduce agricultural environmental impacts, farmers can implement agricultural best management practices (BMPs). While governmental programs can offer incentives, they often do not provide sufficient financial security for implementing and managing the practices. Therefore, farmers might be motivated to adopt best management practices because of personal benefits. One source of motivation could be internal, such as values and beliefs an individual has about the environment. This study identified U.S. farmers’ personal values associated with their potential to adopt best management practices and explored their socio-psychological development associated with farm life on their decision-making process. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, quantitative survey data was collected from 67 farmers, and qualitative interview data was collected from eight farmers in the Pacific Northwest. Quantitative results showed that the values universalism and security had positive influence on farmers’ potential to adopt best management practices, where the value of power had a negative influence. The universalism value was present in the qualitative interviews in that participants felt pride in taking care of the environment by implementing minimal to no tillage practices. Overarching themes revealed in the qualitative data included diversity in farming, proving oneself, family experiences on the farm, finances impacting decision-making, and the importance of conveying land to someone who will take care of the environment. Findings from this study can serve as a foundation for future research related to the impact that values can have on farmers’ decision-making processes. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that additional research be conducted to examine the dynamics of spousal contribution to farm decisions. It is also recommended that children be introduced to the positive impacts BMPs can have on the environment to establish values associated with positive environmental behavior and that Cooperative Extension agencies educate farmers on the financial and familial dynamics of adopting BMPs. By understanding values we can instill positive environmental stewardship in the next generation of landowners, ultimately impacting agricultural commodity production and the environment.