Changes to tillage, crop rotations, cover crops and other soil management practices can have big impacts on farm profitability and environmental effects. But soil management changes are complex, and advisors don’t always know what kind of support would be most helpful.
The Minnesota Office for Soil Health mailed a survey to farmers in July 2024 to learn what soil management practices they are using, what challenges they are facing, and what kind of financial and technical support would be helpful as they work to improve the performance of their land.
Information from the survey will be useful to agricultural advisors in the private sector and in government agencies to help them develop more beneficial financial, technical, and informational resources.
Look for survey results on this page in early 2025.
Survey Content
The statewide survey was sent to farm operators, including those who don’t own the land they farm. The following information was collected:
- Farm Characteristics
- Acres farmed
- Types of crops
- General type of soil
- Attitudes and perceptions
- perspectives about conservation practices and water quality
- Attitudes towards adopting new practices
- Perceptions of soil health issues on their farm
- Ability to make management changes
- Impact of soil management choices on water quality and profitability.
- Practices
- Use of various soil and water management practices including tillage types, cover crops, crop rotations, soil testing, manure use, irrigation, and tile drainage.
- Influences on soil management choices
- Importance of financial, social, and environmental factors in making soil management decisions
- Access to information, financial resources, and equipment
- Other barriers and motivators to changing soil management
- Impact of landlord/renter relationship
- Influencing individuals/groups during different stages of management changes change?
- Impact of farmer-led groups
- Soil management programs
- Participation in public and private incentive programs
- Influences on participation