Water quality policy for agricultural lands seeks to improve water quality by changing farmer behavior. We investigate farmer behavior in three water quality regimes that differ by rule structure to examine the fit and interplay of each policy within its social-ecological context, important aspects for improving water quality. Vermont, USA’s practice-based policy requires the adoption of specific practices, whereas New Zealand’s Lake Taupo and Lake Rotorua performance-based policies require farmers to meet a numeric limit for nutrient loss on their farm. Across the three regions we interviewed 38 farmers to elicit mental models of nutrient management changes. We utilized the social-ecological systems (SES) framework to guide mental model elicitation, drawing on farmers’ perceptions of the SES to identify salient aspects for behavior. Mental models were grouped by region and analyzed using network analysis. Farmers in all regions self-report high levels of behavior change and cite the policies as key drivers of behavior. This suggests that each policy fits in that it is achieving desired behavior change. However, different behavioral patterns emerged across the regions that we hypothesize have implications for biophysical fit: structural changes dominate in Vermont (e.g., buffers) and system changes in Taupo (e.g., switch from dairy support to beef cattle). The interplay of the policy in each setting, such as with incentive programs in Vermont and a market for nitrogen in Taupo, contributed to the different behavioral patterns. Additionally, access to capital in some form is required for farmers to achieve changes associated with higher biophysical fit. The social fit of the policies also varied, evidenced by dramatic upheaval in Taupo to mostly neutral perceptions of the policy in Vermont. We conclude that regions considering a shift to water quality rules for farms should carefully consider behavioral dynamics in policy design to achieve water quality goals.

中文翻译：

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评价水质法规作为农民行为的驱动力：一种社会生态系统方法

农业用地的水质政策旨在通过改变农民的行为来改善水质。我们研究了三种水质状况下的农民行为，这些水质状况因规则结构而异，以检查每种政策在其社会生态环境中的适用性和相互影响，这是改善水质的重要方面。美国佛蒙特州的基于实践的政策要求采用特定的实践，而新西兰基于陶波湖和罗托鲁瓦湖的基于绩效的政策要求农民达到其农场养分流失的数字上限。在这三个地区，我们采访了38位农民，以得出养分管理变化的心理模型。我们利用社会生态系统（SES）框架来指导心理模型的启发，利用农民对SES的理解来确定行为的重要方面。心理模型按地区分组，并使用网络分析进行分析。所有地区的农民都会自我报告高水平的行为变化，并将政策作为行为的主要驱动力。这表明每种策略都适合于实现所需的行为更改。然而，我们假设的区域出现了不同的行为模式，这对生物物理适应性有影响：佛蒙特州的结构变化（例如缓冲液）占主导地位，陶波的系统变化（例如从乳业支持转向肉牛）。在每种情况下，政策的相互影响，例如佛蒙特州的激励计划和陶波的氮市场，都导致了不同的行为方式。另外，农民需要某种形式的资本来实现与更高的生物物理适应性相关的变化。这些政策的社会适应性也各不相同，陶波戏剧性的动荡到佛蒙特州对该政策的中立看法就证明了这一点。我们得出的结论是，考虑转向农场水质规则的地区应仔细考虑政策设计中的行为动态，以实现水质目标。