Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

1. Short-term Outcomes

Individual members of NC1190 contributed to the following short-term outcomes that demonstrate increased adoption of conservation practices, improved farmer knowledge and leadership capacity, strengthened outreach and organizational effectiveness, expanded stakeholder engagement, and greater use of research findings in policy and program development.

• Research findings directly supported organizational capacity building. The Wisconsin Demonstration Farm Network using project results to justify the hiring of an additional staff member to expand program delivery and farmer engagement.
• Participating dairy producers implemented conservation and nutrient management practices through the FARM'N program. Four Virginia dairy farms adopted management changes, including reduced nitrogen fertilizer applications, manure injection, and feed waste reduction, resulting in improved nitrogen use efficiency and reduced potential for nutrient losses to surrounding water resources.
• Farmer knowledge and capacity for conducting on-farm conservation research increased. Through farmer-led research networks in Ohio and Missouri, 62 farmers improved their understanding of research design, implementation, and evaluation, strengthening their ability to assess conservation practices under real-world farming conditions.
• Leadership and decision-making capacity related to water management expanded. Evaluations of the Nebraska Water Leaders Academy indicate that program alumni are applying knowledge and leadership skills in their communities and are contributing to innovative approaches for addressing water management challenges.
• Research improved understanding of trusted information sources for water-related issues. Surveys conducted in Nebraska and Pennsylvania found that both agricultural producers and non-farm residents view Extension as a trustworthy and competent source of information, providing valuable guidance for future outreach and education efforts.
• Enhanced stakeholder understanding of effective water governance systems. Research findings identified factors that support the legitimacy of collaborative water governance, including social acceptance, inclusive participation, prior collaboration, and transparent rules, providing actionable insights for water management practitioners and organizations.
• Farmer engagement in long-term soil health initiatives increased. Twenty-three farmers were recruited into an intensive soil health project involving repeated interactions and learning opportunities focused on long-term soil management and conservation outcomes.
• Research results reached broad agricultural and public audiences through extensive dissemination efforts. Findings were shared through journal articles, Extension reports, presentations, and media coverage, including 40 peer reviewed articles and 48 presentations and talks. This outreach reached a range of readers and enabled stakeholders to incorporate research findings into farmer education and outreach programs.
• Watershed organizations applied research findings to improve conservation programming. The Sauk River Watershed Collaborative in Minnesota developed a community-based social marketing plan based on project results, improving its ability to target outreach and address local barriers and motivations affecting soil health practice adoption.
• Research-informed policy discussions on agricultural diversification gained significant visibility and influence. The CAST publication Diversifying the Corn Belt: Policy Pathways for a Resilient Agricultural Future ranked in the top 2% of all CAST publications for engagement, generated strong readership among agricultural stakeholders, informed discussions within the AGree Coalition, influenced policy priority setting, and fostered new collaborations with organizations such as the Wisconsin Farmers Union.

2. Outputs: 

In total, members of NC1190 produced 40 publications in peer reviewed journals and other outlets, 16 reports and fact sheets, and 48 presentations and talks over the past year related to the project research questions.

Publications

1. Asprooth, L., Stedden, C. G., Hammond, E., Okur, A., & Silva, E. (2026). Assessing knowledge levels and learning preferences among organic grain farmers and professionals: The experience of the University of Wisconsin OGRAIN program. Journal of Extension, 64(1).
2. Asprooth, L., Traldi, R., Arbuckle, J., Church, S., Floress, K., Gramig, B., Harden, S., Margenot, A. J., Thompson, A., Torres, A., DeaKyne, E., & Prokopy, L. S. (2026). A Framework for Conceptualizing Agricultural Diversification with a Focus on the U.S. Corn Belt. Agricultural Systems, 238, 104826.
3. Barnes, M., Suttles, S., Carman-Sweeney, E., Houser, M., Irvine, R., Mooney, S., Novick, K., Pruitt, A., Royer, T., Seibert, K., Tank, J., Wang, X., & Yoder, L. (2026). Cover crops as nature-based climate solutions: Potential benefits, knowledge gaps, and opportunities for transdisciplinary work. Earth's Future.
4. Elias, E., Brown, J., Haigh, T., & White, K. (2026). Evaluating the effectiveness of climate service organizations. Climatic Change, 179(4), 69.
5. Fleuridor, L., Haden, V. R., Jackson-Smith, D., Kumar, H., Otaviano, E., Woods, T., Lyon, S., Chiavegato, M., Brown, C., & Hampton, J. (2026). The legacy effects of integrating crop and livestock production on soil biological health. Soil and Tillage Research, 264, 107315.
6. Han, G., Wang, J., Arbuckle, J. G., & Zhong, J. (2026). Understanding the Adoption of Precision Agriculture Technologies by Farmers in China: Insights from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. Agricultural Systems, 231, 104549.
7. Haymaker, J. R., Stewart, R. D., Wolters, B., Stephenson, K., Balkcom, K. S., & Reiter, M. (2026). Long-term effects of cover crops and no-tillage on soil health in the Virginia Coastal Plain. Soil and Tillage Research, 256, 106898.
8. Mehzabin, S., Stephenson, K., & Easton, Z. (2026). Performance of a Large-Scale Woodchip Bioreactor Treating Legacy Nitrogen in Emergent Groundwater Under Varying Environmental and Management Conditions. Journal of Environmental Management.
9. Ramirez, A. R., Castle, S. E., & Wardropper, C. B. (2026). Place attachment and agroforestry adoption. Agroforestry Systems, 100(6), 141.
10. Stagner, F., Morris, C., Helbing, M., Arbuckle, J., & Montabon, F. (2026). Media Sentiment in Anaerobic Digestion Coverage: A Quantitative Content Analysis. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 10.
11. Taraghi, M., Yoder, L., & Janssen, M. (2026). Using a farmer typology to understand heterogeneity in cover crop adoption. Journal of Rural Studies, 125, 104218.
12. Thompson, A. (2026). The co-design catalyst: Developing a process for AI text-to-graphic tools to unlock the power of community dialogue. Landscape Architecture Magazine, 116(3), 88-97.
13. Winkler-Schor, S., Craska, H. D., Skidmore, M. E., & Wardropper, C. B. (2026). Mapping the flow of conservation information across Wisconsin farming communities: Evidence from a social network analysis. People and Nature, 8(7), 2304-2316.
14. Yoder, L., Houser, M., Geiger, N., & Waldman, K. (2026). How do different types of social norms relate to farmers’ adoption of conservation practices? Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems.
15. Zhao, H., Wardropper, C. B., Cao, H., Campbell, C. G., Chang, N. B., & Qiu, J. (2026). Unlocking public support to scale urban agriculture for sustainable cities. npj Urban Sustainability.
16. Zhao, M., Zhang, Y., Thompson, A., Tan, C. L., Chen, Y., Qiu, W., & Li, W. (2026). Is net carbon goal an accounting game? Insight from supply-demand interactions in carbon sequestration service. Land Use Policy.
17. Du, Z., Feng, H., & Arbuckle, J. (2026). Exploring the complementarity between traditional econometric methods and machine learning: An application to adoption and disadoption of conservation practices. Applied Economics, 58(5), 1005-1020.
18. Afzal, N., Swenson, L. J., Zipper, S., Zwickle, A., & Wardropper, C. B. (2025). Using values-informed mental models to understand farmer, water manager, and scientist use and perceptions of hydrologic models. Journal of Hydrology, 658, 133171.
19. Asprooth, L., Arbuckle, J., Traldi, R., Church, S. P., Floress, K., Gramig, B. M., Margenot, A. J., Maynard, E., Thompson, A., Torres, A., Usher, E., Woodings, F., Awashra, I., Pivaral, K., & Prokopy, L. S. (2025). To Diversify or Not to Diversify: A Preliminary Report on Farmers’ Perspectives on Diversification in the U.S. Midwest. Journal of Agricultural and Food Systems Community Development, 40, e14.
20. Awashra, I., Thompson, A. W., Floress, K., Arbuckle, J. G., Church, S. P., Genskow, K., Prokopy, L. S., Rui, Y., & Tesdell, O. (2025). Generative AI text-to-image for community participation in landscape planning. Landscape and Urban Planning, 264, 105464.
21. Babin, N., Tan, J., Church, S. P., & Radulski, B. (2025). Systemic change or input substitution? The impact of the Healthy Soils Program on agroecological transitions within California food systems. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems.
22. Baylis, K., Lentz, E., Caylor, K., Gu, M., Gunderson, C., Haigh, T., Hayes, M., Lahr, H., Maxwell, D., & Funk, C. (2025). Six lessons for closing the last mile: How to make climate decision support actionable. Earth Futures.
23. Burbach, M. E., Kennedy, S., Eaton, W. M., Brasier, K. J., Rudnick, R. R., & Whitmer, W. (2025). Examination of cooperative extension as a bridging organization to enhance cross-boundary collaborative water management. Journal of Extension, 63(2), 4.
24. Burbach, M. E., Kennedy, S., Rudnick, R. R., Stockton, M., Burr, C. A., & Rhoades, K. (2025). Producers’ views and decision-making related to new management practices and technologies after participating in an experiential farm management competition: A mixed-methods study. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 80(3), 261-278.
25. Campbell, O. G., & Haigh, T. (2025). Critical Precipitation Months Across the Western United States. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 103, 527-534.
    Craska, H. D., Skidmore, M. E., & Wardropper, C. B. (2025). Farmer Demonstration Network Program Associated With Increased Conservation Adoption. Conservation Letters, 18(6), e13164.
26. Du, Z., Feng, H., & Arbuckle, J. G. (2025). The interactions between crop insurance and conservation practices: Insights from Program Initiatives and Farm Surveys. Choices.
27. Du, Z., Feng, H., & Arbuckle, J. G. (2025). Not Ready for a Long-Term Commitment? Analyzing Temporal Variability in Cover Crop Adoption. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 80(5), 551-565.
28. Easton, Z. K., Stephenson, K., Benham, B., Bohlke, J. K., Buda, A., Collick, A., Fowler, L., Gilinsky, E., Miller, A., Noe, G., Palm-Forster, L. H., Shabman, L., & Wynn-Thompson, T. (2025). The Nonpoint Source Challenge: Obstacles and Opportunities to Meeting the Nutrient Reduction Goals of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Journal of the American Water Resources Association.
29. Gross, J. C., Colby, A., Johnson, M. K. F., & Wardropper, C. B. (2025). Perceived equity dimensions of agricultural carbon markets in the US Midwest. Journal of Rural Studies, 121, 103940.
    Haigh, T., Goebel, M., & Knutson, C. (2025). Conceptualizing ranch drought plans and planning: A typology. Rangelands, 47(4), 210-217.
30. Haigh, T. R., Schacht, W., Knutson, C. L., Smart, A. J., Volesky, J., Hayes, M., & Burbach, M. (2025). Preparing for drought on the ranch: Lessons from 2012. Research Counts, Volume II.
31. Hu, X., Rakkar, M. K., Lyon, S. W., Armstrong, K. S., Jackson-Smith, D. B., Haden, V. R., Lorenz, N., Whitacre, S. D., & Ippolito, J. A. (2025). Soil health quantification via SMAF and CASH across diverse land uses. Geoderma, 461, 117492.
32. Kumar, H., Fleuridor, L., Haden, V. R., Chiavegato, M., Jackson-Smith, D., & Lyon, S. W. (2025). Soil and water impacts around re-introduction of manure into farming systems. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment, 8(4), e70264.
33. Kumar, K., Jackson-Smith, D., & Bielicki, J. (2025). Evaluating credibility, legitimacy, and salience in a participatory modeling project in the food-energy-water nexus. Environmental Science & Policy, 173, 104249.
34. Legatzke, H., Chaffin, B., Floyd, T. M., Banerjee, S., Church, S. P., Gulab, S., Hamlin, S., Meredith, G. R., Metcalf, A. L., Nesbitt, H. K., Sutherland-Rowen, R., Uden, D. R., & Allen, C. R. (2025). Governance of a landscape: The role of formal and informal organizations. Journal of Environmental Management, 380, 124974.
    Linder, J., Jackson-Smith, D., Inwood, S., & Woods, T. (2025). Impacts of climate change on farmer mental health: A review and analysis of Ohio farmers. Rural Sociology.
35. Morris, C., Stagner, F., Arbuckle, J., Montabon, F., Helbing, M., Hinrichs, C., & Fowler, L. (2025). Growing gas on the farm? Stakeholder perspectives on divergent models of biogas production in the United States. Energy Research & Social Science, 127, 104255.
36. Ranjan, P., & Narain, V. (2025). Economic and legal anthropological approaches to water rights: Perspectives from irrigation and drainage systems in India and the USA. WIREs Water, 12(6).
37. Roth, S., Lewandowski, M., & Cates, A. (2025). Soil Management Perceptions and Experiences of Minnesota Farmers in 2024: A Statewide Assessment. University of Minnesota Technical Report.
38. Roth, S. (2025). Perceptions and Experiences of Soil Health Management Practices in the Sauk River Watershed, Minnesota, USA. University of Minnesota Technical Report.
39. Wald, D. M., Coberley, D. D., Morris, C., Arbuckle, J. G., & Fuller, E. R. (2025). Identifying Deep Leverage Points to Destabilize ‘Lock-in’ and Empower Farmers in the Midwestern Agrifood System. Agriculture and Human Values, 42, 2651-2669.
40. Wise, M. A., Haacker, E., Burbach, M. E., Bitterman, P., & Kopacz, D. (2025). Likelihood of Water Irrigation Efficiency Adoption by Producers in Eastern Arkansas. Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 61(4), e70037.

Reports and fact sheets:

1. Varisco, K., & Haigh, T. (2025). Series of general and individualized fact sheets. Climate-Smart Indigenous Ag Project (Haigh, PI), USDA-NRCS. https://drought.unl.edu/OurWork/Detail.aspx?id=52. Also contributed to workshops: Improving Drought Resilience & Soil Health Discussions, March 6-7, 2025 (25 participants).
2. Haigh, T., & NDMC Communications Staff. (2025). Strengthening Extension and Education for Agricultural Drought Resilience. STEERS Project (Haigh, Co-I), USDA-AFRI.
3. Akin, H., Arbuckle, J. G., Burbach, M. E., Burkhart-Kriesel, Eaton, W. M., Emery, M., Larson, K., Lubben, B., McElravy, L. J., & Vogt, R. (2025). 2025 Nebraska Rural Poll: Rural Nebraskans' Perspectives on Energy Resources. Nebraska Extension Research Report 25-6.
4. Burbach, M. E., Joeckel, R. M., & Akin, H. (2025). 2025 Nebraska Water Leaders Academy Final Report. University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Conservation and Survey Division, Open-File Report 270.
5. Young, A. R., Burbach, M. E., Lackey, S. O., Joeckel, R. M., Shrestha, N., & Westrop, J. P. (2025). Nebraska Statewide Groundwater-Level Monitoring Report, 2024. School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Water Survey Paper 93.
6. Burbach, M. E. (Ed.). (2025). Australia: Managing Diverse Ecosystems (A Storybook of Student Research). University of Nebraska-Lincoln, School of Natural Resources, Open-File Report 265.
7. Aspooth, L., Avers, B., Houser, M., Jackson-Smith, D., Pomeranz, E., Popovici, R., & Wilson, R. (2025). A Mixed-Methods Approach to Conduct Program Evaluation and Monitor Social Indicators of Behavioral Change Over Time in the Western Lake Erie Basin. Final Report of WLEB Social Science Advisory Panel.
8. Arbuckle, J. G., & Upadhaya, S. (2025). Sustainability in the Curriculum at Iowa State University: Comparing Student and Faculty Perspectives. Ames, IA: Iowa State Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice. https://doi.org/10.31274/usp-20250912-0
9. Arbuckle, J. G. (2025). Farmer Perspectives on Iowa's Nutrient Reduction Strategy: 2014-2024. SOC 3113. Ames, IA: Iowa State University Extension.
10. Arbuckle, J. (2025). Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll: 2025 Summary Report. Extension Report SOC3114. Ames, IA: Iowa State University Extension.
11. Jackson-Smith, D., Rehbinder, A., & Skevas, T. (2025). HIGHLIGHTS REPORT: 2025 Ohio and Missouri Farm Polls. From the Ground Up Project. December.
12. Skidmore, M., Wardropper, C., & Craska, H. (2025). Farmer Demonstration Networks as a Catalyst for Conservation Adoption. farmdoc daily, 15(219). Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. November 26, 2025.
13. Jackson-Smith, D., Rehbinder, A., & Skevas, T. (2026). Detailed Survey Results: 2025 Ohio and Missouri Farm Polls. From the Ground Up Project Technical Report #1. March.
14. Arbuckle, J. (2026). STRIPS Collaborator Survey: 2025 Results. STR1066. Ames, IA: Iowa State University Extension Sociology.
15. Palm-Forster, L., Wainger, L., Kuwayama, Y., Stephenson, K., Newburn, D. A., Brownson, K., Cole, M., Beckett, J., Knoche, S., & Campbell, E. (2026). Advancing Market-Based Approaches in the Agricultural Sector to Support Chesapeake Bay Watershed Restoration. STAC Publication Number 26-004, Edgewater, MD.
16. Asprooth, L., Radulski, B., Arbuckle, J., Harden, S., Thompson, A., Tiboris, M., DeaKyne, E., Olechnowicz, C., Awashra, I., Baskerville, M., Church, S., Frautschy, P., Genskow, K., Krome, M., Kulick-Price, V., Maynard, L., Rademacher, F., Reimer, A., Rupel, L., Ryder, N., & Prokopy, L. (2026). Diversifying the Corn Belt: Policy Pathways for a Resilient Agricultural Future. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST). https://doi.org/10.62300/gvx71n78

Presentations:

1. Ortiz, E. & Arbuckle, J. Midwestern farmers’ perspectives on climate change: A meta-analysis review to inform communication and outreach strategies. Rural Sociological Society Annual Meeting. Salt Lake City, UT. August 1, 2025.
2. Stagner, F., Morris, C., Arbuckle, J., Helbing, M., Montabon, F. On-farm anaerobic digestion in the media: A quantitative content analysis. Rural Sociological Society Annual Meeting. Salt Lake City, UT. August 2, 2025.
3. Arbuckle, J., DeLong, C., Morris, C., Lindahl, C. Voices from the Field: Insights from the 2024 Conservation Practitioner Poll. SWCS Annual Meeting. Costa Mesa, CA. August 4, 2025.
4. Roth, S. Perceptions and Experiences of Soil Health Management Practices in the Sauk River Watershed. Sauk River Watershed Education & Outreach Committee Meeting. August 5, 2025.
5. Morris, C. & Arbuckle, J. The Effects of Collective Trauma on Farmer Conservation Behavior. SWCS Annual Meeting. Costa Mesa, CA. August 5, 2025.
6. Asprooth, L., Church, S., Radulski, B., Usher-DeaKyne, E., Arbuckle, J., Prokopy, L. Updates from Diverse Corn Belt: Reimagining Agricultural Diversity. SWCS Annual Meeting. Costa Mesa, CA. August 6, 2025.
7. Prokopy, L., Arbuckle, J., Asprooth, L., Church, S., Harden, S., Radulski, B., Torres, A., Usher, E. Attitudes, Visions, Barriers, and Opportunities Towards a More Diverse Agricultural Landscape in the Corn Belt. SWCS Annual Conference. Costa Mesa, CA. August 6, 2025.
8. Aggrawal, S., Prokopy, L., Thompson, A. Harvesting the Past, Cultivating the Future: Exploring Social-Ecological Memory in Midwest Agriculture. Ecological Society of America Conference. Baltimore, MD. August 2025.
9. Yoder, L. Cover crop as climate insurance. Poster. White River Alliance Summit. Indianapolis, IN. August 28, 2025.
10. Peer Power on Tap: How Testing Ag Performance Solutions Redefines Agricultural Innovation through Stakeholder Collaboration (Panel). Great Plains Water Conference. Omaha, NE. September 18, 2025.
11. Church, S.P. Moderator, “Keynote: Recipes for Success Panel.” Montana Watershed Coordination Council Water Symposium. Billings, MT. September 16, 2025.
12. Church, S.P., Rhodes, E.S., Moore, M.A. From Campfires to the Capitol: Communicating Science to Varied Audiences. Montana Water Resources Association Annual Conference. Great Falls, MT. October 8, 2025.
13. Aggrawal, S. & Thompson, A. Memory as a Toolkit for Rapid Response to Weather Events. HEC Communicating Agriculture Beyond Academia Conference. Sioux Falls, SD. October 16-17, 2025.
14. Aggrawal, S., Prokopy, L., Thompson, A. Harvesting the Past, Cultivating the Future. Midwest Climate Resilience Conference. Milwaukee, WI. October 20-22, 2025.
15. Arbuckle, J. & Han, G. Chinese and U.S. Farmers’ Perspectives on Use of Drones in Agriculture. International Conference on Digital Agriculture and Smart Farming. Barcelona, Spain. October 23, 2025.
16. Aggrawal, S., Prokopy, L., Thompson, A. Exploring Social-Ecological Memory in Midwest Agriculture. Indian Network for Memory Studies. Chennai, India. October 27-29, 2025.
17. Zhao, M. & Thompson, A. A Conceptual Framework for Structuring the Application of Public Participation GIS. ISF Fall Research Expo. Purdue University. October 2025.
18. Arbuckle, J.G. From Hybrid Corn to Cover Crops: Social Science Perspectives on Understanding Farmers’ Adoption of New Practices. Nanjing Agricultural University (virtual). November 14, 2025.
19. Personal Empowerment: Engaging Your Leadership Capacity. Nebraska Water Leaders Academy. November 20, 2025.
20. Williss, R., Haigh, T., Bathke, D. From Data to Dialog: Using Narratives to Form a Clearer Connection with Communities. Poster. Rural Renew Symposium. November 2025.
21. Zhao, M. & Thompson, A. A Conceptual Framework for Structuring the Application of Public Participation GIS. GIS Day, Purdue University. November 2025.
22. Lentz, G. & Thompson, A. Navigating Conservation Planning Through Social and Ecological Structures in Northwest Indiana. ASLA Great Lakes Region Climate Action Seminar. January 2026.
23. Full Range Leadership for Leaders in the Water Arena. Nebraska Water Leaders Academy. January 22, 2026.
24. Jackson-Smith, D. Exploring the Challenges and Potential of Participatory Research in Agriculture. University of Minnesota. February 4, 2026.
25. Roth, S. Using Social Science to Understand Conservation Behavior. 7th Interagency Watershed Approach Workshop. February 5, 2026.
26. Jackson-Smith, D. Exploring the Challenges and Potential of Participatory Research in Agriculture. Indiana University. February 18, 2026.
27. Chavas, D., Cummings, D., Cummings, P., Lu, X., Salazar, K., Sesmero, J., Thompson, A. Midwest Agrivoltaics Incubator. Indiana Sustainability & Resilience Conference. Bloomington, IN. February 2026.
28. Boundary Spanning Skills for Effective Stakeholder Engagement. Nebraska State Irrigation Association. Kearney, NE. March 20, 2026.
29. Arbuckle, J.G. & Nowatzke, L. Global Warming’s “Six Americas” Among Iowa Farmers. Eastern Sociological Society Annual Conference. Washington, DC. March 5-8, 2026.
30. Veisi, H., Jackson-Smith, D., Bielicki, J. A New Way to Build Water, Food, and Energy Futures at the Intersection of New Trade Policy and Sustainability. UW-Milwaukee Center for Water Policy. March 2026.
31. Shingne, M., Hartman, A., Asprooth, L. State of the Grain. Wisconsin Soil Health Alliance for Research and Engagement Meeting. April 8, 2026.
32. Asprooth, L., Radulski, B., Prokopy, L. Diversifying the Corn Belt: Policy Pathways for a Resilient Agricultural Future. CAST Webinar. April 14, 2026.
33. Wardropper, C.B. Changing Conservation Norms in a Demonstration Farm Program. IASNR Annual Meeting. Corvallis, OR. June 2026.
34. Haigh, T. (Organizer/Moderator), Lu, Y., Ilangarathna, G., Wilson, R. Conceptualizing Conservation Decision-Making in Rural Communities. IASNR Annual Conference. June 2026.
35. Jackson-Smith, D., Jefferies, A., Dantzker, H., Rehbinder, A., Shea, E. Does Farmer Co-production of Knowledge Represent a More Effective Path to Innovate Conservation Solutions? IASNR. Corvallis, OR. June 2026.
36. McWherter, B. et al. Is It Believable? Farmer Sensemaking of Cropping Futures Through Iterative Participatory Modeling. IASNR. Corvallis, OR. June 2026.
37. Ranjan, P. Understanding Indigenous and Local Preferences and Priorities for Engaging as Citizen Scientists. IASNR. Corvallis, OR. June 21-24, 2026.Ranjan, P. Qualitative Data for Curious Agricultural Economists. WAEA Annual Meeting. Flagstaff, AZ. June 21-23, 2026.
38. Asprooth, L., Arbuckle, J., Church, S. Charting a Path Toward Participatory Policy Development with the Diverse Corn Belt Project. IASNR Annual Conference. Corvallis, OR. June 23, 2026.
39. Roth, S. Farmer Centered Strategies for Soil Health Practice Adoption in Minnesota. IASNR. Corvallis, OR. June 2026.
40. Understanding Farmer Trust (or Lack Thereof) in Field Level Crop Models as Decision Support Tools. IASNR. Corvallis, OR. June 2026.
41. Yoder, L. “To adopt or not adopt” is the wrong question. Soil Health Workshop. West Lafayette, IN. June 11, 2026.
42. Arbuckle, J.G. Iowa Farmers’ Perspectives on Anaerobic Digesters. State College, PA. June 10, 2026.
43. Arbuckle, J.G. How to Increase Soil Health and Water Quality? Systemic Changes Needed. Union of Concerned Scientists Congressional Briefing. Washington, DC. June 8, 2026.
44. Exploring How a Community Can Utilize the Community Capitals Framework. Nebraska Water Leaders Academy. July 10, 2026.
45. Irwin, E. et al. Global-to-Local Impacts on Regional Sustainability. 7th World Congress of Environmental and Resource Economists. Portugal. July 2026.
46. Wardropper, C.B. Mapping the Flow of Conservation Information Across Wisconsin Farming Communities. SWCS Conference. St. Louis, MO. July 2026.
47. Farmer Support and Opposition for Wind Energy in Iowa and Nebraska is Shaped by Technology Scale and Ownership. Rural Sociological Society Annual Meeting. Raleigh, NC. July 30, 2026.
48. McFadden, J., Rosburg, A., Lim, K., Arbuckle, J.G. Precision Agriculture and Multidimensional Attributes of Farmer Wellbeing. AAEA Annual Meeting. July 28, 2026.

Other data, posters, and websites:

1. The National Drought Mitigation Center’s Managing Drought Risk on the Ranch website, with new URL – https://ranchdrought.unl.edu. Haigh leads this resource, informed by research on drought vulnerability, coping impacts, monitoring, and planning. The site was developed with the support of USDA RMA funding. The site was featured in a UNL Beefwatch article in June 2025, and the Good Grazing Makes Cent$ newsletter (Volume 5, Issue 8) in June 2026. The site had over 9,200 visitors in 2025, with over 14,650 page views.
2. Rehbinder, A., D. Jackson-Smith, and T. Skevas. (2026). Beef Grazing Practices and Perceptions of Management-Intensive Rotational Grazing in Ohio and Missouri. Poster presented at 2026 Annual Meeting of the International Association for Society and Natural Resources. Corvallis, OR. June.

3. Activities: 

NC1190 group:

As a team, the NC1190 group organized three conference sessions. The sessions were organized to share NC1190 member research at the 2026 IASNR Conference held in Corvallis, Oregon. The sessions included:

• Applied Adaptive Strategies for Maintaining or Improving Ecosystem Function. Presenters include Landon Yoder, Indiana University; Adena Rissman, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Mark Burbach, University of Nebraska – Lincoln; and Sydney Sappenfield, University of Washington
• Using participatory and engaged research and outreach to advance socio-ecological and economic outcomes. Presenters include Lauren Asprooth, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Pranay Ranjan, Northern Arizona University; and Doug Jackson-Smith, Ohio State University
• Conceptualizing conservation decision-making in rural communities. Presenters include Tonya Haigh, University of Nebraska – Lincoln; Yu Lu, Oregon State University; Gayanthi Ilangarathna, University of Illinois; and Robyn Wilson, The Ohio State University

NC1190 individuals

Individual members conducted a wide range of research, evaluation, outreach, and stakeholder engagement activities focused on agricultural and natural resource management, climate resilience, conservation adoption, water quality, and rural community outcomes. Activities included conducting systematic literature reviews, surveys, meta-analyses, and program evaluations to better understand farmer trust in conservation, climate, and predictive modeling information; public and volunteer perceptions of freshwater ecosystem threats; rancher interactions with resource agencies and responses to drought and wildlife; farmer adoption and dis-adoption of conservation practices; and the influence of social norms on conservation decisions.

• Agricultural climate adaptation: Researchers advanced work on agricultural climate adaptation and drought resilience through collaborations with USDA Climate Hubs, the NC1190 network, and Extension communities of practice. Efforts included studying ecological drought monitoring and management, supporting climate adaptation in Midwestern agriculture, and working with rural communities to strengthen climate resilience.
• Water quality and nutrient management. Virginia Tech researchers designed and launched the FARM'N (Funding for Agricultural Reduction in Mass Balance of Nitrogen) program, an innovative pay-for-outcomes initiative that directly compensates dairy producers for reducing nitrogen surpluses and nonpoint source pollution in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Additional work evaluated the effectiveness of agricultural and urban nonpoint source pollution reduction programs and communicated findings to state agencies and policymakers.
• Extension and outreach: Members also engaged stakeholders through advisory panels, summits, farmer-researcher networks, and collaborative working groups. These efforts included participation in the Western Lake Erie Basin Social Science Advisory Panel; convening the Stinner Summit to foster dialogue among farm and nonfarm stakeholders on agricultural and water quality issues; supporting farmer-led research groups, organic farmer-researcher networks, and agroforestry working groups; and facilitating multi-state stakeholder engagement through the Corn Belt Reimagining Agricultural Diversity (RAD) project.
• Program evaluation: Program evaluation and behavioral research activities examined the impacts of leadership and agricultural innovation programs such as the Nebraska Water Leaders Academy and Testing Ag Performance Solutions (TAPS), as well as factors influencing groundwater conservation behaviors among agricultural water users. Additional activities included longitudinal assessments of farmers' perceptions of soil health practices in partnership with Minnesota state agencies and the development of research aimed at increasing farmer trust in predictive crop and soil models and identifying opportunities to diversify corn and soybean production systems through extended rotations.

4. Milestones: 

• Completed major data collection for freshwater invertebrate conservation research, obtaining survey responses from approximately 800 members of the public and 70 volunteers to support analysis of public understanding, concerns, and intended conservation actions.
• Secured and initiated implementation of the FARM'N program, obtaining $4.7 million in funding to support Virginia dairy farms in improving nitrogen use efficiency. Four farms were enrolled for the 2026 funding cycle, with recruitment underway for an additional twelve farms for 2027. Individualized nutrient management plans are being developed with participating producers.
• Advanced research on public perceptions of voluntary carbon farming markets by completing 30 in-depth public interviews and initiating analysis of interview data in preparation for a nationwide survey effort.
• Secured funding for a new PFAS and biosolids research project in New York, receiving $25,000 funding award to support farmer interviews aimed at informing state policy decisions related to biosolids use, PFAS contamination, soil health, and farmland viability.
• Established and completed the first field season of 10 farmer-led research groups across Ohio and Missouri, generating initial evidence that farmer-led experimentation is increasing producer engagement, ownership, and interest in conservation challenges and solutions.
• Completed analysis of statewide farm poll data in Ohio and Missouri, documenting conservation practice adoption patterns and providing new insights into farmer perceptions of extreme weather events, stress, and agricultural resilience.
• Expanded the evaluation of the Testing Ag Performance Solutions (TAPS) program, as additional states adopted TAPS competitions, increasing opportunities to assess program impacts and participant outcomes across broader geographic areas. 
• Launched a new research initiative on trust in predictive models, building directly on prior findings that identified lack of trust in state regulatory agencies as a key barrier to collaborative water management and laying the foundation for future studies on farmer trust and decision support tools.
• Completed a statewide farmer survey report for the Minnesota Office for Soil Health (MOSH) and the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), providing statewide and regional findings from the 2024 farmer mail survey.
• Developed region-specific outreach materials for Minnesota conservation partners, drafting fact sheets for all eight Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) regions that summarize local survey results and provide tailored recommendations for increasing soil health practice adoption.
• Secured an opportunity to translate research findings into practice through stakeholder training, contracting to deliver a workshop for Minnesota SWCD and watershed staff focused on improving communication strategies and outreach related to soil health practices.
• Completed a draft manuscript on pathways and motivations of agricultural diversification in the Corn Belt, entitled “Divergent Pathways: Navigating a Course to Diversification in the Corn Belt,” and prepared it for submission to Society and Natural Resources.
• Conducted a webinar to showcase the findings of the Diverse Corn Belt policy brief with over 500 registrations. 

The following grants, contracts and resources were obtained throughout the last year by NC1190 members related to the research questions of this project, many in collaboration with other NC1190 members:

1. Integrating human and biophysical factors to project future cropscapes under climate change. NSF Dynamics of Integrated Socio-Ecological Systems (DISES) Program (Award #A1103086). E. Burchfield (Lead PI), D. Jackson-Smith (Co-PI), A. Basche (Co-PI), and A. Rissing (Co-PI). $1,500,000. March 1, 2023 - December 31, 2027.
2. Branching Out: Helping small and medium size farmers tap into emerging markets, diversify land management, and grow new networks. USDA/AFRI Small and Medium Sized Farms Program (#20236800638980). E. Huff (PI), D. Jackson-Smith, A. Rissman, and K. Flores (Co-PIs). $650,000. 2023 - 2028.
3. Building Partnerships for Farmer-Led Organic Research in Ohio
   USDA Organic Research and Education Initiative (OREI) Program (Award #20235130040856). D. Jackson-Smith (Lead PI), D. Natoli Brooks, and R. Tayse. $50,000. November 2023 - October 2025.
4. From the Ground Up: Using on-farm research and collaboration to accelerate adoption of climate smart agricultural practices in the Midwest. USDA AFRI Sustainable Agricultural Systems Program (Award #2024-68012-41752). D. Jackson-Smith (Lead PI) with S. Kumaran, T. Hurisso, E. Shea, and G. Singh. $10,000,000. July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2029.
5. Testing Ag Performance Solutions (TAPS). Mark Burbach. Nebraska Corn Board. $99,657. July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025.
6. UNL proposal to support persistent data services and rebuild CSD web services. Mark Burbach. U.S. Geological Survey. $51,907. July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025.
7. CSU Climate Smart Advances in Ag. Mark Burbach. USDA-NRCS. $120,000. September 1, 2024 - September 30, 2025.
8. Nebraska Water Leaders Academy. Mark Burbach. Nebraska State Irrigation Association. $18,248. January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025.
9. PFAS Contamination & Farmland Project Support Grant. Patrice Kohl. Funder notification received; support anticipated this month. $25,000. August 2026 - August 2027
10. Rotational Grazing Adoption in Ohio and Missouri. USDA SARE Graduate Student Research Grant (Award #SUBA00001636-H011845029). A. Rehbinder (PI), D. Jackson-Smith (Co-PI and Advisor). $19,954. October 2025 - August 2026.
11. Testing Ag Performance Solutions (TAPS). Mark Burbach. Nebraska Corn Board. $104,752. July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026.
12. UNL proposal to support persistent data services and rebuild CSD web services. Mark Burbach. U.S. Geological Survey. $19,771. September 15, 2025 - September 14, 2026.
13. State of the Grain: Defining, Evaluating, and Showcasing the Regional Grainshed in the Upper Midwest U.S. Lauren Asprooth (PI), NCR-SARE. $249,807. December 2025 - February 2028.
14. Funding for Agricultural Reductions in Mass Balance of Nitrogen (FARM'N)
    Amazon Web Services grant to Virginia State Dairymen's Association; Virginia Tech serves as subcontractor providing technical and verification services. $4.7 million. January 2026 - December 2034.
15. Nebraska Water Leaders Academy. Mark Burbach. Nebraska State Irrigation Association. $20,186. January 1, 2026 - December 31, 2026.
16. Building the Oat Road Map: A Pathway for Developing Robust Food-Grade Oat Supply Chains in the Upper Midwest. Lauren Asprooth (PI). Contract through The Nature Conservancy. $146,741. March 2026 - March 2028.
17. CSU Climate Smart Advances in Ag. Mark Burbach. USDA-NRCS. $950,000. October 1, 2025 - September 26, 2028. (Listed here according to award start year sequence; starts after September 2025 awards.)

Publications

1. Asprooth, L., Stedden, C. G., Hammond, E., Okur, A., & Silva, E. (2026). Assessing knowledge levels and learning preferences among organic grain farmers and professionals: The experience of the University of Wisconsin OGRAIN program. Journal of Extension, 64(1).
2. Asprooth, L., Traldi, R., Arbuckle, J., Church, S., Floress, K., Gramig, B., Harden, S., Margenot, A. J., Thompson, A., Torres, A., DeaKyne, E., & Prokopy, L. S. (2026). A Framework for Conceptualizing Agricultural Diversification with a Focus on the U.S. Corn Belt. Agricultural Systems, 238, 104826.
3. Barnes, M., Suttles, S., Carman-Sweeney, E., Houser, M., Irvine, R., Mooney, S., Novick, K., Pruitt, A., Royer, T., Seibert, K., Tank, J., Wang, X., & Yoder, L. (2026). Cover crops as nature-based climate solutions: Potential benefits, knowledge gaps, and opportunities for transdisciplinary work. Earth's Future.
4. Elias, E., Brown, J., Haigh, T., & White, K. (2026). Evaluating the effectiveness of climate service organizations. Climatic Change, 179(4), 69.
5. Fleuridor, L., Haden, V. R., Jackson-Smith, D., Kumar, H., Otaviano, E., Woods, T., Lyon, S., Chiavegato, M., Brown, C., & Hampton, J. (2026). The legacy effects of integrating crop and livestock production on soil biological health. Soil and Tillage Research, 264, 107315.
6. Han, G., Wang, J., Arbuckle, J. G., & Zhong, J. (2026). Understanding the Adoption of Precision Agriculture Technologies by Farmers in China: Insights from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. Agricultural Systems, 231, 104549.
7. Haymaker, J. R., Stewart, R. D., Wolters, B., Stephenson, K., Balkcom, K. S., & Reiter, M. (2026). Long-term effects of cover crops and no-tillage on soil health in the Virginia Coastal Plain. Soil and Tillage Research, 256, 106898.
8. Mehzabin, S., Stephenson, K., & Easton, Z. (2026). Performance of a Large-Scale Woodchip Bioreactor Treating Legacy Nitrogen in Emergent Groundwater Under Varying Environmental and Management Conditions. Journal of Environmental Management.
9. Ramirez, A. R., Castle, S. E., & Wardropper, C. B. (2026). Place attachment and agroforestry adoption. Agroforestry Systems, 100(6), 141.
10. Stagner, F., Morris, C., Helbing, M., Arbuckle, J., & Montabon, F. (2026). Media Sentiment in Anaerobic Digestion Coverage: A Quantitative Content Analysis. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 10.
11. Taraghi, M., Yoder, L., & Janssen, M. (2026). Using a farmer typology to understand heterogeneity in cover crop adoption. Journal of Rural Studies, 125, 104218.
12. Thompson, A. (2026). The co-design catalyst: Developing a process for AI text-to-graphic tools to unlock the power of community dialogue. Landscape Architecture Magazine, 116(3), 88-97.
13. Winkler-Schor, S., Craska, H. D., Skidmore, M. E., & Wardropper, C. B. (2026). Mapping the flow of conservation information across Wisconsin farming communities: Evidence from a social network analysis. People and Nature, 8(7), 2304-2316.
14. Yoder, L., Houser, M., Geiger, N., & Waldman, K. (2026). How do different types of social norms relate to farmers’ adoption of conservation practices? Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems.
15. Zhao, H., Wardropper, C. B., Cao, H., Campbell, C. G., Chang, N. B., & Qiu, J. (2026). Unlocking public support to scale urban agriculture for sustainable cities. npj Urban Sustainability.
16. Zhao, M., Zhang, Y., Thompson, A., Tan, C. L., Chen, Y., Qiu, W., & Li, W. (2026). Is net carbon goal an accounting game? Insight from supply-demand interactions in carbon sequestration service. Land Use Policy.
17. Du, Z., Feng, H., & Arbuckle, J. (2026). Exploring the complementarity between traditional econometric methods and machine learning: An application to adoption and disadoption of conservation practices. Applied Economics, 58(5), 1005-1020.
18. Afzal, N., Swenson, L. J., Zipper, S., Zwickle, A., & Wardropper, C. B. (2025). Using values-informed mental models to understand farmer, water manager, and scientist use and perceptions of hydrologic models. Journal of Hydrology, 658, 133171.
19. Asprooth, L., Arbuckle, J., Traldi, R., Church, S. P., Floress, K., Gramig, B. M., Margenot, A. J., Maynard, E., Thompson, A., Torres, A., Usher, E., Woodings, F., Awashra, I., Pivaral, K., & Prokopy, L. S. (2025). To Diversify or Not to Diversify: A Preliminary Report on Farmers’ Perspectives on Diversification in the U.S. Midwest. Journal of Agricultural and Food Systems Community Development, 40, e14.
20. Awashra, I., Thompson, A. W., Floress, K., Arbuckle, J. G., Church, S. P., Genskow, K., Prokopy, L. S., Rui, Y., & Tesdell, O. (2025). Generative AI text-to-image for community participation in landscape planning. Landscape and Urban Planning, 264, 105464.
21. Babin, N., Tan, J., Church, S. P., & Radulski, B. (2025). Systemic change or input substitution? The impact of the Healthy Soils Program on agroecological transitions within California food systems. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems.
22. Baylis, K., Lentz, E., Caylor, K., Gu, M., Gunderson, C., Haigh, T., Hayes, M., Lahr, H., Maxwell, D., & Funk, C. (2025). Six lessons for closing the last mile: How to make climate decision support actionable. Earth Futures.
23. Burbach, M. E., Kennedy, S., Eaton, W. M., Brasier, K. J., Rudnick, R. R., & Whitmer, W. (2025). Examination of cooperative extension as a bridging organization to enhance cross-boundary collaborative water management. Journal of Extension, 63(2), 4.
24. Burbach, M. E., Kennedy, S., Rudnick, R. R., Stockton, M., Burr, C. A., & Rhoades, K. (2025). Producers’ views and decision-making related to new management practices and technologies after participating in an experiential farm management competition: A mixed-methods study. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 80(3), 261-278.
25. Campbell, O. G., & Haigh, T. (2025). Critical Precipitation Months Across the Western United States. Rangeland Ecology & Management, 103, 527-534.
    Craska, H. D., Skidmore, M. E., & Wardropper, C. B. (2025). Farmer Demonstration Network Program Associated With Increased Conservation Adoption. Conservation Letters, 18(6), e13164.
26. Du, Z., Feng, H., & Arbuckle, J. G. (2025). The interactions between crop insurance and conservation practices: Insights from Program Initiatives and Farm Surveys. Choices.
27. Du, Z., Feng, H., & Arbuckle, J. G. (2025). Not Ready for a Long-Term Commitment? Analyzing Temporal Variability in Cover Crop Adoption. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 80(5), 551-565.
28. Easton, Z. K., Stephenson, K., Benham, B., Bohlke, J. K., Buda, A., Collick, A., Fowler, L., Gilinsky, E., Miller, A., Noe, G., Palm-Forster, L. H., Shabman, L., & Wynn-Thompson, T. (2025). The Nonpoint Source Challenge: Obstacles and Opportunities to Meeting the Nutrient Reduction Goals of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Journal of the American Water Resources Association.
29. Gross, J. C., Colby, A., Johnson, M. K. F., & Wardropper, C. B. (2025). Perceived equity dimensions of agricultural carbon markets in the US Midwest. Journal of Rural Studies, 121, 103940.
    Haigh, T., Goebel, M., & Knutson, C. (2025). Conceptualizing ranch drought plans and planning: A typology. Rangelands, 47(4), 210-217.
30. Haigh, T. R., Schacht, W., Knutson, C. L., Smart, A. J., Volesky, J., Hayes, M., & Burbach, M. (2025). Preparing for drought on the ranch: Lessons from 2012. Research Counts, Volume II.
31. Hu, X., Rakkar, M. K., Lyon, S. W., Armstrong, K. S., Jackson-Smith, D. B., Haden, V. R., Lorenz, N., Whitacre, S. D., & Ippolito, J. A. (2025). Soil health quantification via SMAF and CASH across diverse land uses. Geoderma, 461, 117492.
32. Kumar, H., Fleuridor, L., Haden, V. R., Chiavegato, M., Jackson-Smith, D., & Lyon, S. W. (2025). Soil and water impacts around re-introduction of manure into farming systems. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment, 8(4), e70264.
33. Kumar, K., Jackson-Smith, D., & Bielicki, J. (2025). Evaluating credibility, legitimacy, and salience in a participatory modeling project in the food-energy-water nexus. Environmental Science & Policy, 173, 104249.
34. Legatzke, H., Chaffin, B., Floyd, T. M., Banerjee, S., Church, S. P., Gulab, S., Hamlin, S., Meredith, G. R., Metcalf, A. L., Nesbitt, H. K., Sutherland-Rowen, R., Uden, D. R., & Allen, C. R. (2025). Governance of a landscape: The role of formal and informal organizations. Journal of Environmental Management, 380, 124974.
    Linder, J., Jackson-Smith, D., Inwood, S., & Woods, T. (2025). Impacts of climate change on farmer mental health: A review and analysis of Ohio farmers. Rural Sociology.
35. Morris, C., Stagner, F., Arbuckle, J., Montabon, F., Helbing, M., Hinrichs, C., & Fowler, L. (2025). Growing gas on the farm? Stakeholder perspectives on divergent models of biogas production in the United States. Energy Research & Social Science, 127, 104255.
36. Ranjan, P., & Narain, V. (2025). Economic and legal anthropological approaches to water rights: Perspectives from irrigation and drainage systems in India and the USA. WIREs Water, 12(6).
37. Roth, S., Lewandowski, M., & Cates, A. (2025). Soil Management Perceptions and Experiences of Minnesota Farmers in 2024: A Statewide Assessment. University of Minnesota Technical Report.
38. Roth, S. (2025). Perceptions and Experiences of Soil Health Management Practices in the Sauk River Watershed, Minnesota, USA. University of Minnesota Technical Report.
39. Wald, D. M., Coberley, D. D., Morris, C., Arbuckle, J. G., & Fuller, E. R. (2025). Identifying Deep Leverage Points to Destabilize ‘Lock-in’ and Empower Farmers in the Midwestern Agrifood System. Agriculture and Human Values, 42, 2651-2669.
40. Wise, M. A., Haacker, E., Burbach, M. E., Bitterman, P., & Kopacz, D. (2025). Likelihood of Water Irrigation Efficiency Adoption by Producers in Eastern Arkansas. Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 61(4), e70037.

Reports and fact sheets:

1. Varisco, K., & Haigh, T. (2025). Series of general and individualized fact sheets. Climate-Smart Indigenous Ag Project (Haigh, PI), USDA-NRCS. https://drought.unl.edu/OurWork/Detail.aspx?id=52. Also contributed to workshops: Improving Drought Resilience & Soil Health Discussions, March 6-7, 2025 (25 participants).
2. Haigh, T., & NDMC Communications Staff. (2025). Strengthening Extension and Education for Agricultural Drought Resilience. STEERS Project (Haigh, Co-I), USDA-AFRI.
3. Akin, H., Arbuckle, J. G., Burbach, M. E., Burkhart-Kriesel, Eaton, W. M., Emery, M., Larson, K., Lubben, B., McElravy, L. J., & Vogt, R. (2025). 2025 Nebraska Rural Poll: Rural Nebraskans' Perspectives on Energy Resources. Nebraska Extension Research Report 25-6.
4. Burbach, M. E., Joeckel, R. M., & Akin, H. (2025). 2025 Nebraska Water Leaders Academy Final Report. University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Conservation and Survey Division, Open-File Report 270.
5. Young, A. R., Burbach, M. E., Lackey, S. O., Joeckel, R. M., Shrestha, N., & Westrop, J. P. (2025). Nebraska Statewide Groundwater-Level Monitoring Report, 2024. School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Water Survey Paper 93.
6. Burbach, M. E. (Ed.). (2025). Australia: Managing Diverse Ecosystems (A Storybook of Student Research). University of Nebraska-Lincoln, School of Natural Resources, Open-File Report 265.
7. Aspooth, L., Avers, B., Houser, M., Jackson-Smith, D., Pomeranz, E., Popovici, R., & Wilson, R. (2025). A Mixed-Methods Approach to Conduct Program Evaluation and Monitor Social Indicators of Behavioral Change Over Time in the Western Lake Erie Basin. Final Report of WLEB Social Science Advisory Panel.
8. Arbuckle, J. G., & Upadhaya, S. (2025). Sustainability in the Curriculum at Iowa State University: Comparing Student and Faculty Perspectives. Ames, IA: Iowa State Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice. https://doi.org/10.31274/usp-20250912-0
9. Arbuckle, J. G. (2025). Farmer Perspectives on Iowa's Nutrient Reduction Strategy: 2014-2024. SOC 3113. Ames, IA: Iowa State University Extension.
10. Arbuckle, J. (2025). Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll: 2025 Summary Report. Extension Report SOC3114. Ames, IA: Iowa State University Extension.
11. Jackson-Smith, D., Rehbinder, A., & Skevas, T. (2025). HIGHLIGHTS REPORT: 2025 Ohio and Missouri Farm Polls. From the Ground Up Project. December.
12. Skidmore, M., Wardropper, C., & Craska, H. (2025). Farmer Demonstration Networks as a Catalyst for Conservation Adoption. farmdoc daily, 15(219). Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. November 26, 2025.
13. Jackson-Smith, D., Rehbinder, A., & Skevas, T. (2026). Detailed Survey Results: 2025 Ohio and Missouri Farm Polls. From the Ground Up Project Technical Report #1. March.
14. Arbuckle, J. (2026). STRIPS Collaborator Survey: 2025 Results. STR1066. Ames, IA: Iowa State University Extension Sociology.
15. Palm-Forster, L., Wainger, L., Kuwayama, Y., Stephenson, K., Newburn, D. A., Brownson, K., Cole, M., Beckett, J., Knoche, S., & Campbell, E. (2026). Advancing Market-Based Approaches in the Agricultural Sector to Support Chesapeake Bay Watershed Restoration. STAC Publication Number 26-004, Edgewater, MD.
16. Asprooth, L., Radulski, B., Arbuckle, J., Harden, S., Thompson, A., Tiboris, M., DeaKyne, E., Olechnowicz, C., Awashra, I., Baskerville, M., Church, S., Frautschy, P., Genskow, K., Krome, M., Kulick-Price, V., Maynard, L., Rademacher, F., Reimer, A., Rupel, L., Ryder, N., & Prokopy, L. (2026). Diversifying the Corn Belt: Policy Pathways for a Resilient Agricultural Future. Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST). https://doi.org/10.62300/gvx71n78

Presentations:

1. Ortiz, E. & Arbuckle, J. Midwestern farmers’ perspectives on climate change: A meta-analysis review to inform communication and outreach strategies. Rural Sociological Society Annual Meeting. Salt Lake City, UT. August 1, 2025.
2. Stagner, F., Morris, C., Arbuckle, J., Helbing, M., Montabon, F. On-farm anaerobic digestion in the media: A quantitative content analysis. Rural Sociological Society Annual Meeting. Salt Lake City, UT. August 2, 2025.
3. Arbuckle, J., DeLong, C., Morris, C., Lindahl, C. Voices from the Field: Insights from the 2024 Conservation Practitioner Poll. SWCS Annual Meeting. Costa Mesa, CA. August 4, 2025.
4. Roth, S. Perceptions and Experiences of Soil Health Management Practices in the Sauk River Watershed. Sauk River Watershed Education & Outreach Committee Meeting. August 5, 2025.
5. Morris, C. & Arbuckle, J. The Effects of Collective Trauma on Farmer Conservation Behavior. SWCS Annual Meeting. Costa Mesa, CA. August 5, 2025.
6. Asprooth, L., Church, S., Radulski, B., Usher-DeaKyne, E., Arbuckle, J., Prokopy, L. Updates from Diverse Corn Belt: Reimagining Agricultural Diversity. SWCS Annual Meeting. Costa Mesa, CA. August 6, 2025.
7. Prokopy, L., Arbuckle, J., Asprooth, L., Church, S., Harden, S., Radulski, B., Torres, A., Usher, E. Attitudes, Visions, Barriers, and Opportunities Towards a More Diverse Agricultural Landscape in the Corn Belt. SWCS Annual Conference. Costa Mesa, CA. August 6, 2025.
8. Aggrawal, S., Prokopy, L., Thompson, A. Harvesting the Past, Cultivating the Future: Exploring Social-Ecological Memory in Midwest Agriculture. Ecological Society of America Conference. Baltimore, MD. August 2025.
9. Yoder, L. Cover crop as climate insurance. Poster. White River Alliance Summit. Indianapolis, IN. August 28, 2025.
10. Peer Power on Tap: How Testing Ag Performance Solutions Redefines Agricultural Innovation through Stakeholder Collaboration (Panel). Great Plains Water Conference. Omaha, NE. September 18, 2025.
11. Church, S.P. Moderator, “Keynote: Recipes for Success Panel.” Montana Watershed Coordination Council Water Symposium. Billings, MT. September 16, 2025.
12. Church, S.P., Rhodes, E.S., Moore, M.A. From Campfires to the Capitol: Communicating Science to Varied Audiences. Montana Water Resources Association Annual Conference. Great Falls, MT. October 8, 2025.
13. Aggrawal, S. & Thompson, A. Memory as a Toolkit for Rapid Response to Weather Events. HEC Communicating Agriculture Beyond Academia Conference. Sioux Falls, SD. October 16-17, 2025.
14. Aggrawal, S., Prokopy, L., Thompson, A. Harvesting the Past, Cultivating the Future. Midwest Climate Resilience Conference. Milwaukee, WI. October 20-22, 2025.
15. Arbuckle, J. & Han, G. Chinese and U.S. Farmers’ Perspectives on Use of Drones in Agriculture. International Conference on Digital Agriculture and Smart Farming. Barcelona, Spain. October 23, 2025.
16. Aggrawal, S., Prokopy, L., Thompson, A. Exploring Social-Ecological Memory in Midwest Agriculture. Indian Network for Memory Studies. Chennai, India. October 27-29, 2025.
17. Zhao, M. & Thompson, A. A Conceptual Framework for Structuring the Application of Public Participation GIS. ISF Fall Research Expo. Purdue University. October 2025.
18. Arbuckle, J.G. From Hybrid Corn to Cover Crops: Social Science Perspectives on Understanding Farmers’ Adoption of New Practices. Nanjing Agricultural University (virtual). November 14, 2025.
19. Personal Empowerment: Engaging Your Leadership Capacity. Nebraska Water Leaders Academy. November 20, 2025.
20. Williss, R., Haigh, T., Bathke, D. From Data to Dialog: Using Narratives to Form a Clearer Connection with Communities. Poster. Rural Renew Symposium. November 2025.
21. Zhao, M. & Thompson, A. A Conceptual Framework for Structuring the Application of Public Participation GIS. GIS Day, Purdue University. November 2025.
22. Lentz, G. & Thompson, A. Navigating Conservation Planning Through Social and Ecological Structures in Northwest Indiana. ASLA Great Lakes Region Climate Action Seminar. January 2026.
23. Full Range Leadership for Leaders in the Water Arena. Nebraska Water Leaders Academy. January 22, 2026.
24. Jackson-Smith, D. Exploring the Challenges and Potential of Participatory Research in Agriculture. University of Minnesota. February 4, 2026.
25. Roth, S. Using Social Science to Understand Conservation Behavior. 7th Interagency Watershed Approach Workshop. February 5, 2026.
26. Jackson-Smith, D. Exploring the Challenges and Potential of Participatory Research in Agriculture. Indiana University. February 18, 2026.
27. Chavas, D., Cummings, D., Cummings, P., Lu, X., Salazar, K., Sesmero, J., Thompson, A. Midwest Agrivoltaics Incubator. Indiana Sustainability & Resilience Conference. Bloomington, IN. February 2026.
28. Boundary Spanning Skills for Effective Stakeholder Engagement. Nebraska State Irrigation Association. Kearney, NE. March 20, 2026.
29. Arbuckle, J.G. & Nowatzke, L. Global Warming’s “Six Americas” Among Iowa Farmers. Eastern Sociological Society Annual Conference. Washington, DC. March 5-8, 2026.
30. Veisi, H., Jackson-Smith, D., Bielicki, J. A New Way to Build Water, Food, and Energy Futures at the Intersection of New Trade Policy and Sustainability. UW-Milwaukee Center for Water Policy. March 2026.
31. Shingne, M., Hartman, A., Asprooth, L. State of the Grain. Wisconsin Soil Health Alliance for Research and Engagement Meeting. April 8, 2026.
32. Asprooth, L., Radulski, B., Prokopy, L. Diversifying the Corn Belt: Policy Pathways for a Resilient Agricultural Future. CAST Webinar. April 14, 2026.
33. Wardropper, C.B. Changing Conservation Norms in a Demonstration Farm Program. IASNR Annual Meeting. Corvallis, OR. June 2026.
34. Haigh, T. (Organizer/Moderator), Lu, Y., Ilangarathna, G., Wilson, R. Conceptualizing Conservation Decision-Making in Rural Communities. IASNR Annual Conference. June 2026.
35. Jackson-Smith, D., Jefferies, A., Dantzker, H., Rehbinder, A., Shea, E. Does Farmer Co-production of Knowledge Represent a More Effective Path to Innovate Conservation Solutions? IASNR. Corvallis, OR. June 2026.
36. McWherter, B. et al. Is It Believable? Farmer Sensemaking of Cropping Futures Through Iterative Participatory Modeling. IASNR. Corvallis, OR. June 2026.
37. Ranjan, P. Understanding Indigenous and Local Preferences and Priorities for Engaging as Citizen Scientists. IASNR. Corvallis, OR. June 21-24, 2026.Ranjan, P. Qualitative Data for Curious Agricultural Economists. WAEA Annual Meeting. Flagstaff, AZ. June 21-23, 2026.
38. Asprooth, L., Arbuckle, J., Church, S. Charting a Path Toward Participatory Policy Development with the Diverse Corn Belt Project. IASNR Annual Conference. Corvallis, OR. June 23, 2026.
39. Roth, S. Farmer Centered Strategies for Soil Health Practice Adoption in Minnesota. IASNR. Corvallis, OR. June 2026.
40. Understanding Farmer Trust (or Lack Thereof) in Field Level Crop Models as Decision Support Tools. IASNR. Corvallis, OR. June 2026.
41. Yoder, L. “To adopt or not adopt” is the wrong question. Soil Health Workshop. West Lafayette, IN. June 11, 2026.
42. Arbuckle, J.G. Iowa Farmers’ Perspectives on Anaerobic Digesters. State College, PA. June 10, 2026.
43. Arbuckle, J.G. How to Increase Soil Health and Water Quality? Systemic Changes Needed. Union of Concerned Scientists Congressional Briefing. Washington, DC. June 8, 2026.
44. Exploring How a Community Can Utilize the Community Capitals Framework. Nebraska Water Leaders Academy. July 10, 2026.
45. Irwin, E. et al. Global-to-Local Impacts on Regional Sustainability. 7th World Congress of Environmental and Resource Economists. Portugal. July 2026.
46. Wardropper, C.B. Mapping the Flow of Conservation Information Across Wisconsin Farming Communities. SWCS Conference. St. Louis, MO. July 2026.
47. Farmer Support and Opposition for Wind Energy in Iowa and Nebraska is Shaped by Technology Scale and Ownership. Rural Sociological Society Annual Meeting. Raleigh, NC. July 30, 2026.
48. McFadden, J., Rosburg, A., Lim, K., Arbuckle, J.G. Precision Agriculture and Multidimensional Attributes of Farmer Wellbeing. AAEA Annual Meeting. July 28, 2026.

Other data, posters, and websites:

1. The National Drought Mitigation Center’s Managing Drought Risk on the Ranch website, with new URL – https://ranchdrought.unl.edu. Haigh leads this resource, informed by research on drought vulnerability, coping impacts, monitoring, and planning. The site was developed with the support of USDA RMA funding. The site was featured in a UNL Beefwatch article in June 2025, and the Good Grazing Makes Cent$ newsletter (Volume 5, Issue 8) in June 2026. The site had over 9,200 visitors in 2025, with over 14,650 page views.
2. Rehbinder, A., D. Jackson-Smith, and T. Skevas. (2026). Beef Grazing Practices and Perceptions of Management-Intensive Rotational Grazing in Ohio and Missouri. Poster presented at 2026 Annual Meeting of the International Association for Society and Natural Resources. Corvallis, OR. June.