This study consists of 3 mailings sent between February – March 2025.

If you have received a letter from us and do not wish to participate, there is no need to contact anyone. You can simply disregard the next two mailings you receive. We will not contact you after the final mailing in mid-March. Thank you!

If you return a questionnaire, thank you! We will send you information about the tool at the end of March. You only need to complete the questionnaire one time.

You may have received a letter kindly requesting your participation in a research project to understand how farmers make decisions about their nutrient application rates. The purpose of this study is to assess whether a no-cost, online tool provided by the University would be useful to farmers when they make phosphorus and potassium application decisions.

We obtained names and addresses from Farm Service Agency records. We contacted 12,000 farm owners and/or operators in Illinois who participated in the USDA’s pandemic assistance programs and asking them to (1) complete and return a short questionnaire and (2) use our online tool.

The first questionnaire was mailed on February 14, 2025. It included nine questions about the recipient’s farming operation and nutrient management decision-making process. We asked that anyone interested in participating in the study complete and return the pre-stamped, pre-addressed questionnaire to us. It will take less than 5 minutes to complete. Participants will receive this questionnaire from us up to three times between February and March 2025. Anyone who returns the survey will then receive a postcard with information on how to access and provide feedback on our online tool.

Please email jgross27@illinois.edu if you do want not to receive this questionnaire in the mail. Participation is completely voluntary, and you may withdraw from the study at any time. We are not collecting any identifiable information, and your answers will be anonymous.

Participation in this research is important for both the University of Illinois and the Illinois farming community. First, responses will help us determine whether the University is conducting research that is relevant and targeting issues you are currently facing. Second, answers will help build a tool that will provide region-specific information to assist farmers across Illinois make decisions about nutrient management.