By J. Gordon Arbuckle Jr.
A new report from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach examines awareness and attitudes among Iowa farmers regarding the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, a statewide initiative launched in 2013 to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus runoff into Iowa’s waterways and contributions to Gulf hypoxia.
The report, authored by J. Arbuckle, professor, extension sociologist and Henry A. Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, draws on data from the Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, an annual survey of Iowa farmers. The 2024 Farm Poll, which surveyed close to 1,000 farmers, repeated questions that were first asked in the 2014 survey, allowing a decadal comparison of farmer awareness and attitudes related to the INRS.
Key findings
- Awareness: Nearly 90% of farmers reported some knowledge of the INRS in 2024, up from 80% in 2014. The farm press, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, government agencies and commodity groups were the most common sources of information.
- Water Quality Concerns: While 70% of farmers remained concerned about agriculture’s impact on Iowa’s water quality, this marked a slight decline from 76% in 2014. Just under 50% agreed that nutrients from Iowa farms contribute to Gulf hypoxia, with 44% uncertain about the connection.
Source : iastate.edu