Using KAP Surveys to Gather Information from Producers and Landowners.

Agricultural and natural resource programs have a responsibility to demonstrate that projects are effective and are having the intended impact. Program evaluation is critical to meeting this need. Proper evaluation informs project activities, improves design and implementation and justifies expenditure of funds. It also provides evidence for program achievements and identifies areas for improvement. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is using a Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) study to evaluate the social impacts of the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program. KAP studies are customized surveys, administered before and after completion, to monitor changes that occur during the course of a program or intervention. They are valued as a cost-effective, versatile tool for formative and summative evaluation. Results from our KAP surveys, each conducted with producers and landowners in a different pilot area, were used in three primary ways; 1) to identify knowledge gaps and levels of awareness of water quality concerns to customize education and outreach materials, 2) assess current use and potential demand for conservation practices, and 3) identify supports and barriers that may influence success of the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program.  Initial results have helped the MDA plan more effectively for the contextual differences in watersheds and to understand ways to encourage producers and landowners to take a more active role in addressing nonpoint source pollution. Results from the second round of surveys, conducted at the end of the piloting phase, will be used to gauge short term outcomes of the program. We will summarize results as well as the method, its applications, and utility for state and local environmental agencies.