WITH DR. ZUYI WANG AND DR. ANASTASIA THAYER, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
Surveys of Agricultural Producers and Their Adoption of Climate-Smart Practices Around 10% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States results from agricultural practices (NRCS). In South Carolina (SC) , 28.4% of the total cropland employs reduced tillage, while only 7.26% incorporates cover cropping (NASS). Climate-Smart Grown in SC is a five-year collaboration between Clemson University, South Carolina State University, and twenty-seven other organizations focused on expanding implementation of conservation practices focusing on four important SC commodities: peanuts, leafy greens, forages for beef cattle, and forest products. The initiative focuses on performing research, taking measurements, offering financial incentives, providing technical and educational support, and finding marketing opportunities for climate-smart commodities. The purpose of this project is to survey enrolled producers after their first year of implementing conservation practices incentivized by this partnership. The original survey was adjusted to gather information on challenges after initial adoption, effects of adoption, and perceptions on continued use of practices. Several questions were incorporated to uncover concerns regarding adoption and design programs to help overcome stated barriers. Another aim is to enhance the effectiveness of the survey by reviewing data and refining poorly worded or confusing questions. The focus on survey methodology is instrumental to provide support for farmers to embrace a more conservation-minded approach.
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