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ABSTRACT
This study provides a unique examination of Amish farmers’ awareness of water quality issues and their attitudes toward and use of agricultural conservation practices compared with small non-Amish farmers in Northeastern Indiana. There is minimal research about the conservation beliefs and behaviors of this growing and highly diverse ethnoreligious minority, who have faith-based technological restrictions and are often hesitant to work with community outsiders, especially the government. We find that, compared with non-Amish farmers, Amish farmers have limited awareness of the linkages between common agricultural practices and broader water quality problems and lower levels of adoption of conservation practices, with the exception of cover crops. This information is essential for conservation practitioners who need to work with a diverse range of agricultural producers to increase the uptake of conservation practices that address critical water quality concerns.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the farmers themselves for spending time talking with us or taking our survey, the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funds for providing funding, local NRCS conservation agents for research assistance, Belyna Bentlage for interview assistance, Mike Dunn for assistance with survey delivery, Jackie M. Getson for map design, and the undergraduate research assistants in Natural Resources Social Science lab at Purdue University for their help with a variety of research tasks.
Notes
“Significant differences” indicate a statistically significant difference at the p < .05 level.
Excluding large English farmers led to only minimal changes in the results. The only comparison that changed significance was in differences in nutrient management plans between Amish and non-Amish farmers (it becomes nonsignificant).
These percentages only include those for whom the practices are relevant. For instance, awareness/usage of cover crops only includes those who plant row crops.
Other BMPs including two-stage ditches, NRCS conservation plans, and controlled drainage were asked about in the surveys and interviews. They are excluded from our analysis and discussion because they are less likely to be used by Amish farmers because of the small size of their farms and reduced likelihood to use them given their reluctance to take government financial assistance.