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. Phosphorus 4. Bacteria and viruses in the water (such as E.coli / coliform) 5. Trash or debris in the water 6. Atrazine 7. Heavy metals 8. Not enough oxygen in the water 9. Habitat alteration harming local fish 10. Pesticides

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 industry into streams and lakes 2. Discharges from sewage treatment plants 3. Soil erosion from construction sites 4. Soil erosion from farm fields 5. Improper disposal of used motor oil and/or antifreeze 6. Improperly maintained septic systems 7. Manure from farm animals 8. Stormwater runoff from streets and/or highways 9. Excessive use of fertilizers for crop production 10. Crop production (irrigated) 11. Animal feeding operations 12. Land development or redevelopment 13. Soil loss from stream channels 14. Dredging of streams 15. Streambank or shoreline modification/destabilization 16. Drainage/filling of wetlands

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. Use manure in accordance with its nutrient content 2. Consider the nitrogen contribution from legumes in rotation when establishing nitrogen fertilizer application 3. Adjust crops or fertilization in high risk areas of the field (e.g. sink holes, shallow soils over fractured bedrock) 4. Avoid fall application of manure or nitrogen fertilizer to reduce environmental losses 5. Maintain the calibration of fertilizer application equipment 6. Consider location and soil characteristics to minimize leaching or runoff 7. Apply manure so that nutrients are being applied within university recommendations 8. Improve stream habitat

Specific Constraints of Practices

Soil tests: Conduct regular soil tests for pH, phosphorous, nitrogen and potassium levels to determine appropriate application levels.

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

Variable Rate Fertilizer Application: Use variable rate application management units to minimize fertilizer waste and achieve more precise crop production.

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

Pest Management Record Keeping: Records of crops, pests and pesticide use to help develop pest control strategies

23. 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

24. If the practice is not relevant, please explain why.

25. 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 26. Don't know how to do it 27. Time required 28. Cost 29. The features of my property make it difficult 30. Insufficient proof of water quality benefit 31. Desire to keep things the way they are 32. Hard to use with my farming system 33. Lack of equipment

Wetlands Restoration/Enhancement: Reestablishing or improving a low-lying area of land that is saturated with moisture especially when regarded as the natural habitat of wildlife.

34. 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

35. If the practice is not relevant, please explain why.

36. 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 37. Don't know how to do it 38. Time required 39. Cost 40. The features of my property make it difficult 41. Insufficient proof of water quality benefit 42. Desire to keep things the way they are 43. Physical or health limitations 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

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.