Improving agri-environmental policy design: farmer and administrator insights on voluntary conservation programs.

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Title: Improving agri-environmental policy design: farmer and administrator insights on voluntary conservation programs.
Authors: Irvine, Rachel1 (AUTHOR) rmirvine@indiana.edu, Wardropper, Chloe2 (AUTHOR), Harden, Seth C.3 (AUTHOR), Yoder, Landon1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Renewable Agriculture & Food Systems. 2025, Vol. 40, p1-10. 10p.
Subject Terms: *Cover crops, *Soil fertility, *Nutrient pollution of water, *Sustainable agriculture, *Farmers, Policy sciences, Monetary incentives
Geographic Terms: Illinois, Midwest (U.S.)
Abstract: Worldwide, voluntary agri-environmental programs encourage farmers to adopt environmentally friendly practices. However, the impact of program design on farmers' participation and long-term practice persistence is unclear. Toward improving program effectiveness, this study illustrates the value of a tailored practice-specific approach to agri-environmental program design. We present a case study of programs promoting cover crops, a conservation practice that can improve soil health and reduce nutrient pollution, drawing from five focus groups with farmers (n = 20) and program administrators (n = 14) in the U.S. Midwest (Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana). Participants perceived cover crop programs to best support farmers is characterized by flexibility and minimal transaction costs. Participants suggested a more data-driven approach to program design particularly for understanding the farm-level economic implications of cover crop use. Integrating financial planning and participatory research components alongside traditional financial incentives and technical assistance were proposed as valuable strategies to enhance program design and broaden the appeal of conservation practices like cover crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Renewable Agriculture & Food Systems is the property of Cambridge University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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DbLabel: GreenFILE
An: 192816024
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  Data: Improving agri-environmental policy design: farmer and administrator insights on voluntary conservation programs.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Irvine%2C+Rachel%22">Irvine, Rachel</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> rmirvine@indiana.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wardropper%2C+Chloe%22">Wardropper, Chloe</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Harden%2C+Seth+C%2E%22">Harden, Seth C.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yoder%2C+Landon%22">Yoder, Landon</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Renewable+Agriculture+%26+Food+Systems%22">Renewable Agriculture & Food Systems</searchLink>. 2025, Vol. 40, p1-10. 10p.
– Name: Subject
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cover+crops%22">Cover crops</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Soil+fertility%22">Soil fertility</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nutrient+pollution+of+water%22">Nutrient pollution of water</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sustainable+agriculture%22">Sustainable agriculture</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Farmers%22">Farmers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Policy+sciences%22">Policy sciences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Monetary+incentives%22">Monetary incentives</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Illinois%22">Illinois</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Midwest+%28U%2ES%2E%29%22">Midwest (U.S.)</searchLink>
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Worldwide, voluntary agri-environmental programs encourage farmers to adopt environmentally friendly practices. However, the impact of program design on farmers' participation and long-term practice persistence is unclear. Toward improving program effectiveness, this study illustrates the value of a tailored practice-specific approach to agri-environmental program design. We present a case study of programs promoting cover crops, a conservation practice that can improve soil health and reduce nutrient pollution, drawing from five focus groups with farmers (n = 20) and program administrators (n = 14) in the U.S. Midwest (Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana). Participants perceived cover crop programs to best support farmers is characterized by flexibility and minimal transaction costs. Participants suggested a more data-driven approach to program design particularly for understanding the farm-level economic implications of cover crop use. Integrating financial planning and participatory research components alongside traditional financial incentives and technical assistance were proposed as valuable strategies to enhance program design and broaden the appeal of conservation practices like cover crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Renewable Agriculture & Food Systems is the property of Cambridge University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1017/S1742170525000067
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 10
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Cover crops
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Soil fertility
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Nutrient pollution of water
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sustainable agriculture
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Farmers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Policy sciences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Monetary incentives
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Illinois
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Midwest (U.S.)
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Improving agri-environmental policy design: farmer and administrator insights on voluntary conservation programs.
        Type: main
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            NameFull: Irvine, Rachel
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            NameFull: Wardropper, Chloe
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            NameFull: Harden, Seth C.
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            NameFull: Yoder, Landon
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            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Text: 2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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              Value: 17421705
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              Value: 40
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            – TitleFull: Renewable Agriculture & Food Systems
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