Understanding barriers and opportunities for adoption of conservation practices on rented farmland in the US

Abstract

Agricultural conservation programs often focus on farm operators when promoting conservation practices. However, much of U.S. farmland is owned by landowners not directly involved in farm operations. Rental arrangements on these lands can dis-incentivize the adoption of conservation practices that could improve soil health, water quality, and land values. To date, agricultural conservation policy has largely ignored the role of non-operating landowners (NOLs) and rental arrangements. We help improve the evidence-base for policy by identifying barriers to adoption of conservation practices on rented farmlands. Analysis of forty interviews with NOLs, operators, farm managers and university extension personnel in Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana revealed five categories of barriers: cash rent lease terms, rental market dynamics, information deficits/asymmetries, cognitive/interpersonal, and financial motivations. Some barriers, such as risk aversion and farm aesthetics were expressed by both NOLs and operators,

Conservation behavior and effects of economic and environmental message frames

“…The program offers these nonoperating farmland owners, or NOLs, different forms of assistance and incentives to work with their operators to adopt cover crops, a soil health and nutrient management practice. The design of the message framing experiment was informed by a focus group, interviews (Ranjan et al, 2019), and a pilot experiment with follow-up interviews (SI Methods and Materials). The message framing experiment tested whether two framed messages increased enrollment rates for the agricultural program in comparison to a control message (Figure 1).…”

Synthesizing Conservation Motivations and Barriers: What Have We Learned from Qualitative Studies of Farmers’ Behaviors in the United States?

“…More specifically, communication between tenant farmers, NOLs, and farm managers, as well as NOLs' support for tenant farmers' conservation decision-making, emerged as aspects of land tenure that both motivated and hindered adoption. To that effect, practitioners should consider designing outreach programs directed toward NOLs and take steps to improve communication between NOLs and tenant farmers, as well as "intermediaries" such as farm managers, and NOLs and tenant farmers (Ranjan et al 2019). Practitioners could also use these outreach programs to promote the importance of secure land tenure, including multi-year leases, to encourage conservation behavior on rented farmland.…”

Types of Agriculture Land Tenancy System in Demak District, Demak Regency

“…Similar study by Sklenicka et al (2015) supports Foudi's statement in which landlords has the tendency to maintain farmland in more sustainable manner than tenants. On the contrary, a study by Ranjan et al (2018) stated that landlords, particularly off-farm landlords, less aware of land conservation. However, most landlords are off-farm landlords and the land management is on the hand of tenants.…”