Marquart-Pyatt, S. T., K. Beethem, and T. Guo. 2025. Understanding the drivers of biological and technological practice adoption by United State Midwest farmers. Society & Natural Resources doi: 10.1080/08941920.2025.2578785

Transforming nutrient management through technological innovation or incorporating biological principles in farming is critical to reverse environmental degradation caused by overapplying synthetic fertilizers. There is growing demand to adopt a systems-based approach to agriculture, acknowledging the interconnectedness of farming practices. Using data collected in 2018 from corn and soybean producers in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, we employ structural equation modeling to examine motivators behind two groups of nutrient management practices: biological (cover crop, longer season crop varieties, extended rotation) and technological (variable rate and growing-season nutrient application, imagery, soil nutrient maps). We found that stewardship motivated biological practice adoption but dampened technological practice adoption, while productivity orientation encouraged technological practice adoption and inhibited biological practice adoption. Using public information sources motivated adoption of both biological and technological practices, while using private information sources encouraged technological practice adoption. We discuss these differences being rooted in competing cultural paradigms of nutrient management.

DOI: 10.1080/08941920.2025.2578785

Associated Treatment Areas:

• Human Surveys
• Social Science Studies

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