Kentucky State University research shows many farmers try one soil- and water-protecting practice, but fewer build the multi-practice systems that can improve soil health, water protection, and long-term productivity

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Food Farm resilience starts on working farms. Building conservation practices into systems, rather than using them one at a time, can strengthen long-term soil and water outcomes while supporting productivity.

A new peer-reviewed study led by Ife Familusi, the paper’s corresponding author and a research associate in Kentucky State University’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, indicates that many Kentucky farmers adopt a first conservation practice, but far fewer expand to multiple practices that work together. The research points to sustained access to practical information as a key factor in whether farmers keep building beyond that first step.

“Conservation practices” are farm methods that help protect soil and water while supporting long-term productivity, including approaches such as crop rotation, cover crops, and nutrient management.

The study examined conservation adoption among 101 farmers across 25 of Kentucky’s 120 counties. Researchers reported that 46.5% used at least one conservation practice. Crop rotation, cover crops, and nutrient management were among the most common, while comprehensive, multi-practice adoption was much less common.

Because conservation systems can influence long-term productivity and risk management, understanding what helps farmers expand beyond a first practice can inform broader conversations about resilient food and farming systems.

“We found farmers in Logan, Madison, and Scott counties using up to nine different conservation practices,” Familusi said. “Meanwhile, most counties report just one or two. That gap tells us something important about how information flows regarding these practices across the state.”

The study separates two challenges that are often treated as one: starting conservation and expanding conservation.

Farmers already using precision agriculture or irrigation systems were more likely to begin conservation, as were farmers with college degrees or off-farm income. But those same advantages did not predict who would continue adding practices over time.

That distinction matters because conservation is often most effective when practices work together, not in isolation. Multi-practice systems can better support soil health, water quality, and long-term farm productivity.

Dr. Buddhi Gyawali, who initiated the statewide survey with USDA support, said farmers who adopt multiple conservation practices typically rely on repeated exposure to information from different sources over time.

“Farmers adopting multiple conservation practices are not just attending one workshop or reading one magazine,” Dr. Gyawali said. “They’re combining Extension advice with consultant recommendations, peer conversations, and media coverage. That repeated exposure from multiple angles is what builds confidence to keep adding practices.”

The findings matter beyond individual farms. Kentucky’s position within the Ohio and Mississippi River watersheds means agricultural runoff in the state affects downstream water quality, and single-practice adoption, while helpful, often is not enough to reduce nutrient loading to broader regional targets.

Dr. Suraj Upadhaya, assistant professor of sustainable systems, said the results show conservation efforts must do more than encourage a first step.

“Many conservation programs focus on getting farmers to adopt a first practice, but our findings show the larger challenge is helping them build momentum beyond that initial step,” Dr. Upadhaya said.

The study also identifies practical barriers that can slow progress, including steeper terrain, time constraints for part-time farmers, and signs that crop insurance payments may reduce motivation to add conservation practices by lowering perceived risk.

Familusi said the findings point to a need for sustained support, not one-time outreach.

“Right now, most programs celebrate getting farmers through the door,” he said. “But we should be asking: what happens in year two? Year three? Are we giving farmers the updated information and technical support they need to keep building their systems?”

The research team recommends demonstration farms that show multiple practices working together, stronger peer networks for farmer-to-farmer learning, and messaging that presents conservation as complementary to precision agriculture. For part-time farmers, the study points to simpler paperwork, flexible meeting schedules, and lower-labor options that are easier to maintain.

The study, Drivers of conservation management practice adoption and intensity in Kentucky, was published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Research. It was co-authored by Dr. Gyawali, Dr. Upadhaya, Dipesh Oli, Shreesha Pandeya, Kabita Paudel, and Dr. Maheteme Gebremedhin, and was presented by Familusi at the 2026 Southern Rural Sociological Association annual meeting in Louisville under the Climate-Smart Practices and Adaptation section.

The study grew out of the 2019 survey “Technology use in Small- and Medium-sized Kentucky farms” (KSU-IRB exemption #21-025). Funding was provided by USDA/AFRI Award #2019-68006-29330 and USDA-Evans-Allen Grants (Accession #7003276), both directed by Dr. Gyawali.

For more information, contact: Ife Familusi (ife.familusi@kysu.edu); and Dr. Buddhi Gyawali (Buddhi.gyawali@kysu.edu) at Kentucky State University.