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Agriculture UIWI 2018

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Rating of Water Quality
Overall, how would you rate the quality of the water in your area?
Poor Okay Good Don't Know
1. For canoeing / kayaking / other boating
2. For eating locally caught fish
3. For swimming
4. For picnicking and family activities
5. For fish habitat
6. For scenic beauty
Your Water Resources
1. Of these activities, which is the most important to you?
For canoeing / kayaking / other boating
For eating locally caught fish
For swimming
For picnicking and family activities
For fish habitat
For scenic beauty
2. Do you know where the rain water goes when it runs off of your property?
No
Yes
3. If you answered 'Yes' above, where does your rain water drain to?
Your Opinions
Please indicate your level of agreement or disagreement with the statements below.
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neither Agree nor Disagree Agree Strongly Agree
1. Using recommended management practices on farms improves water quality.
2. It is my personal responsibility to help protect water quality.
3. It is important to protect water quality even if it slows economic development.
4. My actions have an impact on water quality.
5. I would be willing to pay more to improve water quality (for example: though local taxes or fees)
6. I would be willing to change management practices to improve water quality.
7. The quality of life in my community depends on good water quality in local streams, rivers and lakes.
Water Impairments
Below is a list of water pollutants and conditions that are generally present in water bodies to some extent. The pollutants and conditions become a problem when present in excessive amounts. In your opinion, how much of a problem are the following water impairments in your area?
Not a Problem Slight Problem Moderate Problem Severe Problem Don't Know
1. Sedimentation (dirt and soil) in the water
2. Nitrogen
3. Bacteria and viruses in the water (such as E.coli / coliform)
4. Trash or debris in the water
5. Atrazine
6. Heavy metals
7. Not enough oxygen in the water
8. Habitat alteration harming local fish
9. Pesticides
10. Straightening of stream {channelization}
Sources of Water Pollution
The items listed below are sources of water quality pollution across the country. In your opinion, how much of a problem are the following sources in your area?
Not a Problem Slight Problem Moderate Problem Severe Problem Don't Know
1. Discharges from sewage treatment plants
2. Soil erosion from farm fields
3. Improper disposal of used motor oil and/or antifreeze
4. Improperly maintained septic systems
5. Manure from farm animals
6. Stormwater runoff from streets and/or highways
7. Excessive use of fertilizers for crop production
8. Crop production (irrigated)
9. Animal feeding operations
10. Land development or redevelopment
11. Soil loss from stream channels
12. Dredging of streams
13. Drainage/filling of wetlands
14. Combined Sewer Overflow {CSO}
15. Livestock in streams or ditches
16. Failing septic systems
17. Straightening of streams {channelization}
18. Removal of vegetation along a stream-ditch
Consequences of Poor Water Quality
Poor water quality can lead to a variety of consequences for communities. In your opinion, how much of a problem are the following issues in your area?
Not a Problem Slight Problem Moderate Problem Severe Problem Don't Know
1. Contaminated drinking water
2. Contaminated fish
3. Loss of desirable fish species
4. Reduced opportunities for water recreation
5. Fish kills
6. Lower property values
Practices to Improve Water Quality
Please indicate which statement most accurately describes your level of experience with each practice listed below.
Not relevant for my property Never heard of it Somewhat familiar with it Know how to use it; not using it Currently use it
1. Conduct regular soil tests for pH, phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium
2. Use manure in accordance with its nutrient content
3. Consider the nitrogen contribution from legumes in rotation when establishing nitrogen fertilizer application
4. Adjust crops or fertilization in high risk areas of the field (e.g. sink holes, shallow soils over fractured bedrock)
5. Avoid fall application of manure or nitrogen fertilizer to reduce environmental losses
6. Use variable rate application technology for more precise crop production
7. Maintain the calibration of fertilizer application equipment
8. Use field records of crops, pests and pesticide use to help develop pest control strategies
9. Consider location and soil characteristics to minimize leaching or runoff
10. Apply manure so that nutrients are being applied within university recommendations
11. Restore/enhance wetland
12. Improve stream habitat
Specific Constraints of Practices
Regular Septic System Servicing: Having septic system thoroughly cleaned every 3-5 years to remove all the sludge, effluent and scum from the tank.
1. How familiar are you with this practice?
Not relevant
Never heard of it
Somewhat familiar with it
Know how to use it; not using it
Currently use it
2. If the practice is not relevant, please explain why.
3. Are you willing to try this practice?
Yes or already do
Maybe
No
How much do the following factors limit your ability to implement this practice?
Not at all A little Some A lot Don't Know
4. Don't know how to do it
5. Time required
6. Cost
7. The features of my property make it difficult
8. Insufficient proof of water quality benefit
9. Desire to keep things the way they are
10. Physical or health limitations
11. Hard to use with my farming system
12. Lack of equipment
Cover Crops: Planting cover crops for erosion protection and soil improvement
13. How familiar are you with this practice?
Not relevant
Never heard of it
Somewhat familiar with it
Know how to use it; not using it
Currently use it
14. If the practice is not relevant, please explain why.
15. Are you willing to try this practice?
Yes or already do
Maybe
No
How much do the following factors limit your ability to implement this practice?
Not at all A little Some A lot Don't Know
16. Don't know how to do it
17. Time required
18. Cost
19. The features of my property make it difficult
20. Insufficient proof of water quality benefit
21. Desire to keep things the way they are
22. Hard to use with my farming system
23. Lack of equipment
Riparian Fencing: Fencing that excludes animals from critical riparian areas.
24. How familiar are you with this practice?
Not relevant
Never heard of it
Somewhat familiar with it
Know how to use it; not using it
Currently use it
25. If the practice is not relevant, please explain why.
26. Are you willing to try this practice?
Yes or already do
Maybe
No
How much do the following factors limit your ability to implement this practice?
Not at all A little Some A lot Don't Know
27. Don't know how to do it
28. Time required
29. Cost
30. The features of my property make it difficult
31. Insufficient proof of water quality benefit
32. Desire to keep things the way they are
33. Hard to use with my farming system
34. Lack of equipment
Conservation Tillage: Establishing crops in the previous crop residues, which are purposely left on the soil surface.
35. How familiar are you with this practice?
Not relevant
Never heard of it
Somewhat familiar with it
Know how to use it; not using it
Currently use it
36. If the practice is not relevant, please explain why.
37. Are you willing to try this practice?
Yes or already do
Maybe
No
How much do the following factors limit your ability to implement this practice?
Not at all A little Some A lot Don't Know
38. Don't know how to do it
39. Time required
40. Cost
41. The features of my property make it difficult
42. Insufficient proof of water quality benefit
43. Desire to keep things the way they are
44. Hard to use with my farming system
45. Lack of equipment
Making Decisions for my Property
In general, how much does each issue limit your ability to change your management practices?
Not at all A little Some A lot Don't Know
1. Personal out-of-pocket expense
2. Lack of government funds for cost share
3. Not having access to the equipment that I need
4. Lack of available information about a practice
5. No one else I know is implementing the practice
6. Concerns about reduced yields
7. Approval of my neighbors
8. Don't want to participate in government programs
9. Requirements or restrictions of government programs
10. Possible interference with my flexibility to change land use practices as conditions warrant
11. Environmental damage caused by practice
12. I do not own the property
13. Not being able to see a demonstration of the practice before I decide
About Your Farm Operation
1. Please select the option that best describes who generally makes management decisions for your operation.
Me alone or with my spouse
Me with my family partners (siblings, parents, children)
Me with the landowner
Me with my tenant
Me and my business partners
Someone else makes the decision for the operation
Other
2. Please estimate the total tillable acreage (owned and/or rented) of your farming operation this year.
3. This year, how many acres of corn do you manage?  If none, please enter a zero.
4. This year, how many acres of soybeans do you manage?  If none, please enter a zero.
5. This year, how many acres of small grains do you manage?  If none, please enter a zero.
6. This year, how many acres of pasture do you manage?  If none, please enter a zero.
7. How many years have you been farming? (Please enter years)
8. Did any family member own and operate this farm before you did?
No
Yes
9. If you answered 'yes' to the previous question, how many years has the farm been in the family?
10. How likely is it that any family member will continue farm operations when you retire or quit farming?
Definitely will not happen
Probably will not happen
Probably will happen
Definitely will happen
11. Does the property you manage touch a stream, river, lake, or wetland?
Yes
No
12. Five years from now, which statement will best describe your farm operation?
It will be about the same as it is today
It will be larger
It will be smaller
I don't know
13. Do you have a nutrient management plan for your farm operation?
No
Yes
14. Who developed your current nutrient management plan?
My land Conservation District / Department, University Extension, or NRCS office
A private-sector agronomist or crop consultant
I created my own plan
I don't know
Other
15. What is included in your nutrient management plans?
Commercial nutrients
Livestock manure
Septic waste
Municipal sludge
Industrial sludge
Other
About You
1. What is your gender?
Male
Female
2. What is your age?
3. What is the highest grade in school you have completed?
Some formal schooling
High school diploma/GED
Some college
2 year college degree
4 year college degree
Post-graduate degree
4. How long have you lived at your current residence (years)?
5. Which of the following best describes where you live?
In a town, village, or city
In an isolated, rural, non-farm residence
Rural subdivision or development
On a farm
6. In addition to your residence, which of the following do you own or manage? (check all that apply)
An agricultural operation
Forested land
Rural recreational property
None of these
7. How many days, if any, did you work at least 4 hours per day off your farm operation for pay in the past year? (Include work on someone else's farm for pay.)
None
1 - 49 days
50 - 99 days
100 - 199 days
200 days or more
8. Do you consider yourself retired from your farm operation?
Retired
Partially retired
Not retired
9. Where are you likely to seek information about soil and water conservation issues? (Check all that apply)
Newsletters/brochure/factsheet
Internet
Radio
Workshops/demonstrations/meetings
Conversations with others
Trade publications/magazines
None of the above
10. Do you regularly read a local newspaper?
Yes
No
Information Sources
People get information about water quality from a number of different sources. To what extent do you trust those listed below as a source of information about soil and water?
Not at all Slightly Moderately Very much Am not familiar
1. Soil and Water Conservation District
2. Natural Resources Conservation Service
3. University Extension
4. Farm Bureau
5. Fertilizer representatives
6. Crop consultants
7. Other landowners / friends
8. Farm Service Agency
Septic Systems
1. Do you have a septic system?
No
Don't Know
Yes
2. If you answered 'yes' to the previous question, in what year was it installed?
3. Within the last five years, have you had any of the following problems? (Check all that apply)-
Slow drains
Sewage backup in house
Bad smells near tank or drain field
Sewage on the surface
Sewage flowing to ditch
Frozen septic
Other
None
Don't know
4. In the future, would you like a reminder from your local health department regarding inspection/maintenance of your septic system?
Yes
No
Don't know
5. Does your septic system have an absorption field ( finger system )?
Yes
No
Don't know
6. How would you know if your septic system was NOT working properly? (Check all that apply)
Slow drains
Sewage backup in house
Bad smells
Toilet backs up
Wet spots in lawn
Pumping tank monthly or more
Straight pipe to ditch
Frozen septic
Don't know
Other
7. Is your septic system designed to treat sewage or get rid of waste?
Treat sewage
Get rid of waste
Both
Neither
Don't know
Thank You
1. Please use the space below for any additional comments about this survey or water resources in your community.




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