In fall 2024, the Minnesota Office for Soil Health surveyed nearly 1,100 farmers across Minnesota to better understand their perspectives on soil management and soil health practices like cover crops, strip-till and no-till, and diversified rotations. The goal was to help agronomists, conservation professionals, and other farm advisors provide more useful, relevant support. The results offer a statewide snapshot of what motivates farmers, the challenges they face, and how they think about soil productivity, profitability, and environmental stewardship. Here are five key takeaways from the survey.

Respondents were similar to the overall population of Minnesota farmers in terms of demographics, size and types of farms, and regions. However, respondents were older than the average Minnesota farmer.

1. Farmers care about off-farm impacts

While farmers represent the full range of attitudes about water resources, they overwhelmingly care about the land around them. Over 80% of respondents feel a responsibility to not contribute to water resource problems and understand that their land management makes a difference to water quality. At the same time, 36% agreed that “protecting the environment will threaten the livelihoods for people like me.”

2. Many farmers think their land is as productive as it could be

When asked about soil problems that are currently impacting the land they farm, respondents identified water problems (41%), soil compaction/crusting (38%), nutrient loss (30%), and erosion (28%) as having a moderate or strong impact. Almost four out of 10 agreed that their land is as productive as it could be.

This means that for the 60% of farmers with soil problems, advisors have a useful point to start a conversation about healthy soil management. For the remainder, it may not resonate to talk about soil health as a solution to a problem they don’t have.

3. Long-term viability drives soil management decisions

When asked how important several factors were to soil management decisions, more than 75% agreed that protecting productivity, increasing long-term profitability, increasing yield, and making sure the land stays in the family were very to extremely important. In other words, at the forefront of farmers’ minds is preserving the long-term viability of the farm. This is an immediate risk with long-term impacts. Advisors have to address the short-term risks of change (or not changing) before they can attend to potential long-term benefits.

Results for questions about barriers to soil health management are interesting, but it is important to keep in mind individual variation. Perhaps the best way to use the results is to have the below list of barriers in mind when talking to an individual and explore which are important to them.

 

Perceived barriers to soil health management practices

 

When asked what would make people more likely to adopt soil health practices, responses fell into three categories:

  • Evidence that the practice will work agronomically, and to protect water,
  • Ways to learn how to make it work, and
  • Capacity or logistical support, such as cost-share, help navigating programs, and reliable markets.

Factors that make it more likely farmers adopt or maintain cover crops, very low tillage, or diversified rotations

4. Adoption is a process

A red flag should go up when you find yourself asking questions like, “How do I flip this farmer from being a non-adopter to an adopter?” or “Who do farmers trust for information?” Survey results showed that practice adoption is not an on-off switch and farmers aren’t looking to just one messenger.
 
 We asked respondents who would strongly influence their soil management decisions at four stages:

  • When first considering a new practice
  • To learn more about a new practice
  • To help plan implementation of a new practice
  • To learn how to improve or maintain a current practice

Influencers varied with each stage.

 

Adoption influences

5. Read the full report for lots of other interesting information

Go to z.umn.edu/SHsurvey to read the full report, including information about:

  • Attitudes about the environment and community.
  • The rate of adoption for a variety of soil management practices.
  • Participation in government programs and what respondents think about program participation. (Half of respondents had never even met with a conservation professional.)
  • Awareness of and interest in farmer-led learning networks. (10% of farmers participate in some type of farmer-led learning network related to soil management.) We asked questions about what makes these networks useful and how non-farmers can support them.
  • Relationships between renters and landlords. We asked how long rental agreements are, whether landlords understand farming or live nearby, and how renting influences management decisions.