Farmer identities and responses to the social–biophysical environment

Row crop production in the United States (US) Midwest is responsible for a myriad of water pollution issues in the Mississippi River Basin and the Gulf of Mexico. US federal and state governments have spent billions of dollars since the 1930\u27s to understand and develop biological and geophysical practices that will reduce the negative impacts of agriculture on these landscapes and water bodies. However, significantly fewer resources have been applied to understanding the human factor within this social–ecological system. Recently the social psychological framework known as farmer identity as been used to better understand how farmers view themselves as they perform their role as farmer. To empirically test this concept in the US state of Iowa, a farmer identity question was developed and data were collected as part of an annual survey of Iowa farmers. Four farmer identities (Productivist, Conservationist, Civic-minded, and Naturalist) are identified using principal components analysis and tested for their ability to predict support for farm policy scenarios related to soil and water resource protection. Results show that Productivist, Conservationist, and Naturalist identities were likely to be activated by soil and water policies; and the Civic-minded identity was not activated by soil and water policies in general but was significantly against more money for conservation because it might mean more regulation

Cover Crop Adoption Decisions in Iowa: Insights from an In-Person Survey

CURRENT NITROGEN and phosphorus applications in the Midwest have been connected to increasing water quality problems

Farmer identities and responses to the social–biophysical environment

Row crop production in the United States (US) Midwest is responsible for a myriad of water pollution issues in the Mississippi River Basin and the Gulf of Mexico. US federal and state governments have spent billions of dollars since the 1930's to understand and develop biological and geophysical practices that will reduce the negative impacts of agriculture on these landscapes and water bodies. However, significantly fewer resources have been applied to understanding the human factor within this social–ecological system. Recently the social psychological framework known as farmer identity as been used to better understand how farmers view themselves as they perform their role as farmer. To empirically test this concept in the US state of Iowa, a farmer identity question was developed and data were collected as part of an annual survey of Iowa farmers. Four farmer identities (Productivist, Conservationist, Civic-minded, and Naturalist) are identified using principal components analysis and tested for their ability to predict support for farm policy scenarios related to soil and water resource protection. Results show that Productivist, Conservationist, and Naturalist identities were likely to be activated by soil and water policies; and the Civic-minded identity was not activated by soil and water policies in general but was significantly against more money for conservation because it might mean more regulation.This article is from Journal of Rural Studies 39 (2015): 145, doi:10.1016/j.jrurstud.2015.03.011. Posted with permission.</p

Cover Crop Adoption Decisions in Iowa: Insights from an In-Person Survey

CURRENT NITROGEN and phosphorus applications in the Midwest have been connected to increasing water quality problems.</p

Climate change beliefs, concerns, and attitudes toward adaptation and mitigation among farmers in the Midwestern United States

A February 2012 survey of almost 5,000 farmers across a region of the U.S. that produces more than half of the nation’s corn and soybean revealed that 66% of farmers believed climate change is occurring (8% mostly anthropogenic, 33% equally human and natural, 25% mostly natural), while 31% were uncertain and 3.5% did not believe that climate change is occurring. Results of initial analyses indicate that farmers’ beliefs about climate change and its causes vary considerably, and the relationships between those beliefs, concern about the potential impacts of climate change, and attitudes toward adaptive and mitigative action differ in systematic ways. Farmers who believed that climate change is occurring and attributable to human activity were significantly more likely to express concern about impacts and support adaptive and mitigative action. On the other hand, farmers who attributed climate change to natural causes, were uncertain about whether it is occurring, or did not believe that it is occurring were less concerned, less supportive of adaptation, and much less likely to support government and individual mitigative action. Results suggest that outreach with farmers should account for these covariances in belief, concerns, and attitudes toward adaptation and mitigation. Includes Supplementary materials

What makes a chronic pelvic pain patient satisfied?

Purpose: Caring for women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is challenging. There have been few studies on what factors patients consider to be important when being treated for their pelvic pain. This study sought to identify the key factors of the health care visit that contribute to patient’s overall satisfaction with their care in a CPP clinic. Materials and methods: Between January 2015 and December 2016, new patients visiting a tertiary care CPP clinic were recruited to complete a patient satisfaction survey. Inductive thematic analysis was performed on response data regarding important factors that impact patient satisfaction with their visit/care. Results: Five themes of patient satisfaction identified included: providers with a compassionate and caring attitude, being listened to, clear communication with collaboration when needed, quality time spent with patient, and having a plan of care with recommendations. The theme regarding provider’s compassion and listening skills was the most frequently identified. Pain relief was seldom mentioned as a source of patient satisfaction. Conclusions: The data suggest that a focus on empathic communication may make a meaningful difference in meeting the needs of women with CPP as well as strengthening the provider/patient relationship