New study finds conservation and farmers’ job satisfaction are related

AMES, IA – An innovative study has shed light on the factors that influence job satisfaction among farmers. Published in the June issue of Rural Sociology, the study, “What’s Good for the Land is Good for the Farmer: Investigating Conservation-Related Variables as Predictors of Farmers’ Job Satisfaction,” explores how economic dynamics, farm financial health, soil and water conservation, and climate change concerns impact farmers’ job satisfaction and dissatisfaction.

The study, conducted by J. Arbuckle, Henry A. Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, and Lijing Gao, assistant professor of agricultural science communication at the University of Missouri, comes at a time when the farming community is grappling with increasing stress, mental health issues and suicide rates. The unique challenges of farming, which include both positive and negative aspects, necessitate a deeper understanding of what drives job satisfaction in this sector. Using data from the 2020 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, an annual survey of Iowa farmers, the researchers evaluated various predictors of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction.

Key findings

The study identified multiple factors that influence job satisfaction among farmers. As expected, farm financial health plays a significant role in determining job satisfaction. Farmers who reported better farm economics were more likely to be satisfied with their jobs, whereas those experiencing financial difficulties tended to be dissatisfied.

Another important factor is stewardship motivations, which refer to the commitment to soil and water conservation. Farmers who had strong stewardship motivations and believed that their conservation practices were adequate reported higher levels of job satisfaction. On the other hand, when there was a misalignment between their stewardship goals and satisfaction with practices implemented, it led to greater job dissatisfaction.

The study also highlighted the impact of extreme weather events on job satisfaction. Interestingly, farmers who had successfully coped with extreme weather events reported higher job satisfaction. This suggests that overcoming such challenges can enhance farmers’ sense of competence and, hence, satisfaction with their occupation.

On the other hand, concerns about climate change were found to negatively impact job satisfaction. Farmers who were worried about the long-term effects of climate change on their operations were less likely to be satisfied with their jobs.

“While we found climate change concern was a drag on job satisfaction, the finding that job satisfaction is positively related to successful coping with extreme weather and perceived adequacy of conservation practices is really important. It suggests that farmers who have more resilient farming systems are happier with their jobs,” Arbuckle said.

The role of crop insurance as a revenue protection strategy was also examined. The study found the belief that crop insurance would protect their farm’s revenue from the potential impacts of climate change was related to lower levels of job dissatisfaction. In other words, farmers who felt that crop insurance would be an effective revenue protection strategy were less likely to be dissatisfied with their jobs.

These findings highlight the importance of financial stability, effective conservation practices, resilience in the face of extreme weather, and confidence in crop insurance in shaping farmers’ job satisfaction and overall well-being.

“Understanding the factors that influence farmers’ job satisfaction is crucial for developing effective support programs,” Gao said. “Our study highlights the importance of financial health and stewardship motivations in shaping farmers’ job satisfaction.”

Implications for policy and programs

The findings have implications for agricultural policy and programs. The researchers propose that a focus on the potential job satisfaction benefits of resilient production systems could help conservation professionals promote increased adoption of soil and water conservation practices. This could enhance both farmers’ well-being and the sustainability of agricultural systems. 

Funding for the project came from the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station.

Contacts

Lijing Gao, University of Missouri, lghbc@missouri.edu

J. Arbuckle, Iowa State University, arbuckle@iastate.edu