Engaging Farmers to Improve Communication and Model Representation of Agricultural Ecosystem Services

Engaging Farmers to Improve Communication and Model Representation of Agricultural Ecosystem Services

Summary

Our project seeks to gain insight into how farmers in Indiana describe and value ecosystem services, including their willingness to change management practices for the express purpose of improving ecosystem services. In 2012, we interviewed 15 farmers about their knowledge of ecosystem services, surveyed 200+ farmers about their knowledge of ecosystem services, and then we presented the knowledge gained from these two efforts at an academic conference. In 2013, we analyzed and compiled the results to submit to an academic publication. Also in 2013, focus groups were developed to hone in on details related to the survey and interview outcomes.

In 2014 we will complete three focus groups across Indiana: Northern (Lake County), Central (Tippecanoe County), and Southern (Bartholomew County). The goal of these focus groups is to refine questions that have arisen from the interviews and surveys. The results of all studies (interviews, surveys, focus groups) will be combined to develop a farmer fact sheet about ecosystem services. This publication will be tested for its effectiveness to convey information to agricultural producers through surveys with a small group of farmers. 

Objectives/Performance Targets

1) Evaluate current farmer understanding of ecosystem services on their land, 2) Educate farmers about ecosystem services so they are prepared to take advantage of current and future ecosystem markets to improve environmental impacts and profitability, and 3) Relate this valuable knowledge to our own modeling of best management practices, perennial biofuel crops, and quantifying ecosystem services. Note: As we began to explore the relationships between farmer knowledge of ecosystem services and practices implemented, the knowledge of information providers also appeared to be useful. We expanded the project to also evaluate Indiana Natural Resource Conservation Specialist (NRCS) employee understanding of ecosystem services in cooperation with the State Office. Updated timeline and approach provided in Figure 1.

• Figure 1

Accomplishments/Milestones

1. Analyzed farmer and NRCS surveys for evaluation of basline understanding of ecosystem servcies.
2. Prepared an academic manuscript with results from the surveys and interviews (submitting Spring 2014).
3. Developed, prepared, and scheduled three farmer focus groups across Indiana for Spring 2014.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

1. 1. Have farmers (or conservation planners) heard of the term “ecosystem services,” and do they know what the term means?

1. 1. Do farmers (or conservation planners) recognize the presence of ecosystem services in the landscape, and do they value these services?

1. 1. Who do farmers (or conservation planners) consider to benefit directly from ecosystem services, and who do they believe are responsible for maintaining these services?

1. 1. How can we best reach farmers (a critical stakeholder in restoring and improving ecosystem services in the U.S.) to engage them to improve or restore ecosystem services?

1. 1. The term “ecosystem services” is relatively unknown to Indiana agricultural producers.

1. 1. Indiana agricultural producers can recognize environmental benefits that landscapes provide.

1. 1. They also recognize that different ecosystems provide different beneifts.

1. 1. Their recognition of benefits didn’t vary significantly from that of NRCS conservation planners.

1. 1. We show a specific opportunity to engage U.S. farmers to restore/manage ecosystem services.

Collaborators: