The St. John Valley Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), commissioned MDR to conduct a series of qualitative interviews with farmers in northern Maine’s St. John Valley. The goal of the project was to better understand farmers’ awareness, attitudes, and experiences with best management practices (BMPs) for controlling agricultural runoff, particularly phosphorus and sediment, that contribute to water quality issues in local rivers, lakes, and streams. The findings were intended to inform future conservation planning and support efforts to improve water quality through voluntary BMP adoption. 

MDR conducted 15 in-depth telephone interviews with farmers just prior to the planting season. The sample included seven potato farmers, seven livestock farmers, and two vegetable farmers. Interviews lasted between 20 and 45 minutes and followed a semi-structured guide tailored to each farming type. The guide included questions about BMP familiarity, implementation experiences, perceived barriers, and interest in future adoption with support or incentives. All interviews were recorded with permission and analyzed for key themes and illustrative quotes. 

Potato farmers in the region operated large, modern farms and demonstrated strong awareness of BMPs such as crop rotation, nutrient management, and the use of waterways and diversions. While familiar with other practices like cover crops and conservation tillage, many cited practical limitations due to Maine’s short growing season and equipment constraints. Livestock farmers, managing smaller and often marginal operations, were familiar with manure storage, heavy use areas, and rotational grazing, and had implemented many of these practices with NRCS support. However, they expressed concerns about cost and regulatory restrictions, particularly around roofing manure storage structures. Vegetable farmers showed high enthusiasm for BMPs but noted that some practices like sediment basins or riparian buffers were less relevant to their operations. 

MDR’s work included developing the interview guide in collaboration with SWCD and NRCS, recruiting participants, conducting interviews, analyzing responses, and preparing a comprehensive report and presentation. The final deliverables included detailed findings by farm type, summaries of pressing agricultural issues, ratings of BMP familiarity and difficulty, and recommendations for how conservation agencies could better support farmers in implementing BMPs.