AMES, Iowa -- A study has shed light on the factors that influence job satisfaction among farmers.
Published in Rural Sociology, the study explores how economic dynamics, farm financial health, soil and water conservation, and climate change concerns impact farmers' job satisfaction, according to an Iowa State University news release.
The study was conducted by J. Arbuckle, chair for sustainable agriculture at Iowa State University, and Lijing Gao, assistant professor of agricultural science communication at the University of Missouri.
"Understanding the factors that influence farmers' job satisfaction is crucial for developing effective support programs," Gao said.
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Using data from the 2020 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, an annual survey of Iowa farmers, the researchers evaluated various predictors of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction.
As expected, farmers who reported better farm economics were more likely to be satisfied with their jobs, whereas those experiencing financial difficulties tended to be dissatisfied.
Another crucial factor is stewardship motivations, which refer to the commitment to soil and water conservation. Farmers who had strong stewardship motivations and believed that their conservation practices were adequate reported higher levels of job satisfaction.
Interestingly, farmers who had successfully coped with extreme weather events reported higher job satisfaction. This suggests that overcoming such challenges can enhance farmers' sense of competence and, hence, satisfaction with their occupation.
On the other hand, concerns about climate change were found to negatively impact job satisfaction.
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