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CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Thesis
Farmers' perceptions of soil erosion and soil conservation in the Pleasant Valley Creek watershed
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
05/1985
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000007352
Abstract
Face-to-face interviews were conducted with farm operators in the Pleasant Valley Creek watershed, which is a 28,000 acre watershed lying within the Palouse River drainage basin, located in Whitman County in eastern Washington state. A 41-question survey was used to solicit farm operators' perceptions about soil degradation in relation to their farming practices, what soil conservation practices they employ and why they employ them, their primary sources of information, and how agricultural policies influence adoption or rejection of soil conservation practices.
Survey findings revealed that the majority of farmers interviewed perceived soil erosion as a serious and complex problem involving natural processes and processes induced by farming practices. Most feel they are doing all they can to control erosion within our current agricultural system. They are aware of many different methods to control erosion on their land. Implementation of these methods hinges on shortterm economics, which in most cases supersedes any soil conservation ethic a farm operator may possess.
Personalities play a large role in their trust of an information source. The amount of paper work and lack of consistency between government agencies and in government programs discourages their involvement in many government programs.
Lifestyle emerged as a major factor as to why they are farming. Most of the interviewees were pessimistic about the farming profession as a viable option for their children.
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Details
- Title
- Farmers' perceptions of soil erosion and soil conservation in the Pleasant Valley Creek watershed
- Creators
- Debra M. Schultz
- Contributors
- Bruce E Frazier (Chair) - Washington State University, Department of Crop and Soil SciencesFrederick R. Steiner (Committee Member)David F. Bezdicek (Committee Member)Robert I Papendick (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- School of the Environment (CAHNRS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 93
- Identifiers
- 99901225854301842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis