Understanding farmers’ adoption of conservation tillage in South Dakota: A modified application of the theory of planned behavior

The government and stakeholders in the US agricultural sector promote conservation farming practices, but voluntary adoption is still a challenge among agricultural producers at the farm level. This paper aims to investigate the factors that influence the adoption of conservation tillage (CT) among producers in eastern and central South Dakota. A modified application of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) including controls for socioeconomic and demographic indicators is used to understand farmers’ current usage of CT. Data were gathered from a probability sample of 486 commodity crop farming operations through an online and mail survey. We find that the three constructs of the TPB—attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control—are positively and significantly correlated with the adoption of CT. Binary logistic regression models also show that attitude and perceived behavioral control are related to farmers’ likelihood of adopting CT. Farm size and farmers’ level of education were also positively associated with CT adoption. The results indicate that a modified application of the TPB is useful for understanding the behavior of farmers regarding conservation practices, specifically the adoption of CT in South Dakota. This study contributes to knowledge regarding the role of social-psychological factors in farmers’ CT adoption and provides insights for policymakers and conservation practitioners promoting the adoption of CT in the region.