Catchment Sensitive Farming - Farmer Telephone Survey 2021

Brief Description This project will survey farmers in relation to the wider evaluation of the Catchment Sensitive Farming programme. The results will build on previous surveys to assess changes in the attitudes of farmers over time. EA is looking for a market research agency who are professional members of the Market Research Society & who have experience in research with members of the agric. community. Business Objectives The overall business objective of CSF is to reduce water & air pollution from agriculture, one of the main ways the project aims to achieve this is by changing farmers' attitudes towards & understanding of the agricultural sources of pollutants & ways to mitigate against them. The farmer telephone survey allows us to assess changes in farmers' attitudes contributing to the achievement of this objective. Research Objectives This survey is part of the wider CSF evaluation framework. Results will be used along with information provided by CSF Officers about delivery of advice; information on the extent of advice uptake; & environmental (water quality) monitoring and modelling. The 2021 survey will provide: an updated assessment of the impact of the CSF project on awareness, understanding, attitudes & behaviour in CSF catchments on farmers who have been engaged with by the project; a continued assessment of the awareness of Countryside Stewardship (CS), specifically in relation to its water quality objectives; a continued assessment of farmers' awareness of CSF support to Countryside Stewardship; & insight into the motivation of farmers who have taken action to reduce water & or air pollution from farming through engagement with the CSF Project. The 3 broad research objectives are to: measure changes in awareness and attitudes of the target audience; understand & explain changes in behaviour & how these are affected by CSF; & understand the effectiveness of different approaches to engage farmers with pollution issues.