Methodology for data collection and analysis is reported in: Hammond Wagner, C.R., White, A., Darby, H., Ewing, P., Faulkner, J., Fisher, B., Galford, G., Horner, C., Jones, W.D., Neher, D., Ritzenthaler, C., von Wettberg, E.B. & Zeraatpisheh, M. (2025). Holistic systems thinking underpins Vermont soil health practitioners’ preferences and beliefs. Soil Security, 19, 100186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soisec.2025.100186

Data archival consists of data, R scripts, and R projects for the analysis of two surveys from Vermont, USA:

Study 1: Vermont Soil Health Metrics Preferences Survey

• Data was collected in 2020
• n = 62
• Sample is a convenience sample of soil health practitioners, including farmers, researchers, government service providers, extension agents, technical service providers, and others
• Dataset consists of quantitative closed ended ordinal and binary questions and qualitative open response questions
• Questions cover soil health definitions, assessment methods, and preferred metrics for different decision contexts using the online Qualtrics survey platform.

Study 2: Vermont Farmer and Conservation and Payment for Ecosystem Services Survey

• Data was collected in 2022
• n = 179
• Sample is a convenience sample of Vermont farmers
• Dataset consists of quantitative closed ended ordinal and binary questions
• Questions cover farmers’ soil health beliefs, stewardship motivations, farm demographics, and experience with soil testing