Farmer Perceptions and Adaptations to Nitrogen Regulations in Germany: A Q-Methodology Analysis

This study examines farmers' perceptions and adaptation strategies in response to fertilizer use restrictions due to nitrogen pollution in designated “red areas” under § 13a of the German Fertilizer Ordinance (DüV). Using Q-methodology and qualitative interviews with 24 German farm managers conducted between December 2024 and January 2025, we identified two distinct farmer perspectives: those primarily concerned with bureaucratic burden and perceived ineffectiveness of measures, and those focused on economic burden for farmers and reduced planning certainty. Despite these differences, farmers generally oppose the regulations as they question their effectiveness. Farmer adaptations include investments in (precision) application technology, shifting to more extensive cereal varieties, increased legume cultivation, and storage capacity expansion for organic fertilizers. A few farmers even report yield reductions in winter wheat and decreased protein content in red areas. Our findings suggest that allowing farm-specific flexibility could improve acceptance while maintaining environmental effectiveness. This research demonstrates that successful groundwater protection depends more on stakeholder inclusion and acceptance than additional restrictions.