Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2019

Publication Title

Agricultural & Environmental Letters

Keywords

Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, interviews, farmers, management decisions

Abstract

The Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) is a voluntary framework to achieve ambitious reductions in nitrate-nitrogen and phosphorus runoff to the Mississippi River. In interviews, a group of “conservation-minded” Illinois farmers revealed that while they are not necessarily familiar with the Illinois NLRS, they are concerned with nutrient loss and are taking steps to address those concerns. However, the strategy’s “Phase 1 Milestones” of 15 and 25% reduction in nitrate-nitrogen and phosphorus loss, respectively, by 2025 may require additional efforts to encourage adoption of the best management practices (BMPs) recommended by the strategy. This study identifies the information sources farmers trust in making management decisions, suggesting avenues to encourage achieving the goals of the Illinois NLRS. It also serves as the pilot study for a large-scale farmer survey that will provide a more thorough understanding of Illinois farmers’ awareness of, and responses to, nutrient loss issues.

Funding Source

Funding for this project was provided by USDA-NIFA-AFRI Food Security Program Grant 2016-68004-24769.

DOI

10.2134/ael2019.02.0004

Comments

This article was first published in Agricultural & Environmental Letters on May 3, 2019. https://doi.org/10.2134/ael2019.02.0004.

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC BY-NC-ND license (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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