Ammonia reduction by trees (ART). Farmer’s views on practicalities and farm business benefits of tree planting to capture ammonia

The aim of this study was to capture farmer’s views on the practicalities and farm business benefits of tree planting to capture ammonia from hen or dairy units. This study was part of a larger project to test how effective tree shelterbelts and woodlands are at capturing ammonia emissions on five poultry and dairy farms in Cumbria and to improve information provided for farmers on how to design a tree shelterbelt. Two interviews were conducted, one before and one after the data on the effectiveness of tree shelter belts and woodlands at capturing ammonia emissions was provided to the participating farmers and an ammonia capture calculator tool and shelter belt design guidance was distributed. The interview protocol consisted of 22 questions adapted from the ADOPT model (Adoption and Diffusion Outcome Prediction Tool). This tool was selected as it explicitly addresses the motivation of farmers, relative advantages of a new innovation (such as planting trees to capture ammonia) and the learning associated with the new innovation. Both qualitative (narrative) and quantitative (Likert scale) data was documented for each of the 22 questions. The farmers considered planting trees to capture ammonia more positively after they received data for their farm, discussion of the ammonia capture calculator tool and shelter belt guidance documentation. The ADOPT model was parameterised with the scores from the first and second interviews which resulted in an estimated increase of peak adoption level from 45% uptake by farmers to 85% and a reduction in time to near-peak adoption levels from 18 years to 10 years.