SIDMA homehttp://greatlakeswater.uwex.edu/
Big Walnut Ag 2019

If the survey administrator provided you with a unique response ID, or some other instructions regarding the response ID, please type it into the box below.
If you do not want to provide an ID number, or cannot find the one created for you, just type 'PublicResponse' in the text box.


Response ID:
Minutes remaining to input survey :

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.
8. The economic stability of my community depends upon good water quality.
9. What I do on my land doesn't make much difference in overall water quality.
10. Investing in water quality protection puts the farmer at an economic.
11. Farm management practices do not have an impact on water quality.
12. Taking action to improve water quality is too expensive for me.
13. It is okay to reduce water quality to promote economic development.
14. It is important to protect water quality even it it costs me more.
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. Phosphorus
4. Coliform
5. Bacteria and viruses in the water (such as E.coli / coliform)
6. Trash or debris in the water
7. Toxic materials in the water
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 construction sites
3. Soil erosion from farm fields
4. Soil erosion from shorelines and/or streambanks
5. Excessive use of lawn fertilizers and/or pesticides
6. Improper disposal of household wastes (chemicals, batteries, florescent light bulbs, etc.)
7. Improperly maintained septic systems
8. Manure from farm animals
9. Waste material from pets
10. Excessive use of fertilizers for crop production
11. Animal feeding operations
12. Land development or redevelopment
13. Drainage/filling of wetlands
14. Wildlife
15. Yard maintenance
16. Turf management (golf courses, sports fields)
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 beauty of lakes or streams
5. Reduced quality of water recreation activities
6. Excessive aquatic plants or algae
7. Fish kills
8. Odor
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. Replace home sewage treatment system
2. Conduct regular soil tests for pH, phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium
3. Follow university recommendations for fertilization rates
4. Avoid fall application of manure or nitrogen fertilizer to reduce environmental losses
5. Use field records of crops, pests and pesticide use to help develop pest control strategies
6. Construct water control basins to detain runoff
7. Construct a waste storage facility
8. Use no-till to reduce erosion
9. Establish permanent vegetation on retired agricultural land to reduce erosion
10. Use approved plants and techniques in highly erodible areas
11. Use fencing to exclude animals from critical areas
12. Fence and/or reinforce animal pathways through sensitive terrain
13. Plant vegetation in critical erosion areas
14. Create and/or manage wetland wildlife habitat
15. Transition to organic production
Specific Constraints of Practices
Variable Rate Fertilizer Application: Use variable rate application management units to minimize fertilizer waste and achieve more precise crop production.
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. Hard to use with my farming system
11. Lack of equipment
Cover Crops: Planting cover crops for erosion protection and soil improvement
12. 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
13. If the practice is not relevant, please explain why.
14. 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
15. Don't know how to do it
16. Time required
17. Cost
18. The features of my property make it difficult
19. Insufficient proof of water quality benefit
20. Desire to keep things the way they are
21. Hard to use with my farming system
22. 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. My own views about effective farming or land management methods
3. How easily a new practice fits with my current farming methods
4. The need to learn new skills or methods
5. Lack of government funds for cost share
6. Too much time required for implementation
7. Not having access to the equipment I need
8. Lack of available information about a practice
9. No one else I know is implementing the practice
10. Concerns about the reduced yields
11. Approval of my neighbors
12. Don't want to participate in government programs
13. Requirements or restrictions of government programs
14. Possible interference with my flexibility to change land use practices as conditions warrant
15. Environmental damage caused by practice
16. Environmental benefit practice
17. Profitability
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 canning crops do you manage?  If none, please enter a zero.
7. This year, how many acres of clover/alfalfa do you manage?  If none, please enter a zero.
8. This year, how many acres of pasture do you manage?  If none, please enter a zero.
9. This year, how many acres of conservation set aside / CRP do you manage?  If none, please enter a zero.
10. This year, how many acres of forest / woodland do you manage?  If none, please enter a zero.
11. This year, how many acres of non-row crops for energy do you manage?  If none, please enter a zero.
12. This year, how many acres of other crops do you manage?  If none, please enter a zero.
13. If you provided acreages of "other" crops above, please specify what crops those acres represent:
14. Did any family member own and operate this farm before you did?
No
Yes
15. If you answered 'yes' to the previous question, how many years has the farm been in the family?
16. How many dairy cattle, including heifers and young stock, are part of your farming operation? If none, please enter a zero.
17. How many beef cattle, including young stock, are part of your farming operation? If none, please enter a zero.
18. How many hogs are part of your farming operation? If none, please enter a zero.
19. How many poultry are part of your farming operation? If none, please enter a zero.
20. How many other livestock are part of your farming operation? If none, please enter a zero.
21. If you provided counts of "other" livestock above, please specify what animals those livestock represent:
22. Does the property you manage touch a stream, river, lake, or wetland?
Yes
No
23. If you do have a nutrient management plan, does your nutrient management plan meet the NRCS technical standard 590?
I don't know
No
Yes
24. 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. What is your ethnicity?
African American
American Indian
Asian/Asian American/Pacific Islander
Hispanic/Latino
White/Caucasian
Multi-racial
Other
8. 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
9. 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. Local watershed project
2. Soil and Water Conservation District
3. Natural Resources Conservation Service
4. University Extension
5. State agricultural agency
6. State environmental agency
7. Environmental groups
8. Farm Bureau
9. Fertilizer representatives
10. Crop consultants
11. Other landowners / friends
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. Do you have a garbage disposal?
Yes, I use it daily
Yes, I use it occasionally
Yes, but I don't use it
No
5. 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
6. Do you think a local government agency should handle inspection and maintenance of septic systems?
Yes
No
Don't Know
Thank You
1. Please use the space below for any additional comments about this survey or water resources in your community.
2. Thank you for your time and assistance! Please return provide your name and email address to be entered into a drawing for an Amazon gift card!
3. Please type the code on your mailing label here. If you do not see a code or have a mailing label, please include your address to allow for confirmation of your location within the Big Walnut Creek Drainage.




Institute of Water Research, All Rights Reserved 2024