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2. Herdsmen and livestock farmers' perception, attitudes and risk factors towards zoonotic diseases in Awka north and south local government areas, southeastern Nigeria
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Obi, Chukwunonso Francis (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016-09-22
- Published:
- Nigeria
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 169 Document Number: D08760
- Journal Title:
- Notulae Scientia Biologicae
- Journal Title Details:
- 8(2) : 301-305
3. Combining on-farm and climate data for risk management of nitrogen decisions
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Anderson, Christopher J. (author) and Kyveryga, Peter M. (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016-04-06
- Published:
- United States
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 169 Document Number: D08769
- Journal Title:
- Climate Risk Management
- Journal Title Details:
- 13: 10-18
4. Risk Perceptions and Terror Management Theory: Assessing Public Responses to Urban Flooding in Toronto, Canada
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Mann, Carolyn (author) and Wolfe, S. E. (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016-04-05
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D09280
- Journal Title:
- Water Resources Management
- Journal Title Details:
- 30(8) : 2651-2670
5. How to use databases to untangle local food webs
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Miller, Jenna (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016-10-31
- Published:
- USA: Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 199 Document Number: D09962
- Notes:
- 3 pages.
6. Climate-change communication within public natural resource agencies: lessons learned from the U.S. forest service
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Laatsch, Jamie (author) and Ma, Zhao (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016-01-26
- Published:
- USA: Taylor & Francis
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 151 Document Number: D10130
- Journal Title:
- Society & Natural Resources
- Journal Title Details:
- 29(10) : 1169-1185
- Notes:
- 17 pages., via online journal, By analyzing interview and survey data from U.S. Forest Service employees, we examined the strategies used for communicating about climate change within the agency and their effectiveness from the perspective of agency employees. We found a limited awareness among employees regarding climate policy. We found that horizontal information flow through informal social networks was an important way in which climate-change information was communicated. We also found a lack of confidence among employees in their ability to provide feedback to agency leadership. Our results suggest that (1) agency leadership’s ability to set priorities and deliver positive vision is important for increasing employee awareness and inspiring actions, (2) the agency could play a role in facilitating formal and informal networking among employees, and (3) using advanced information technologies may contribute to information flow horizontally and vertically, formally and informally.
7. Adoption of information and communication technologies (ICTs) by agricultural science and extension teachers in Abuja, Nigeria
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Olugbenga Omotayo Alabi (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016
- Published:
- USA: The American Association for Agricultural Education
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 7 Document Number: D10239
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Education
- Journal Title Details:
- 57(1) : 137-149
- Notes:
- 13 pages., Via online journal., This study examined adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) by agricultural science and extension teachers in Abuja, Nigeria. Specifically, the objectives are to: identify the background and demographic characteristics of agricultural science and extension teachers in the study area; examine the factors influencing adoption of ICTs by respondents and determine the challenges or constraints militating against adoption of ICTs by respondents in the study area. Data were collected from 60 purposively selected agricultural science and extension teachers in the study area. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics SPSS 19.0, Likert scale, t-test and Logit model. Ages, teachers’ experience, access to ICTs were significant factors influencing adoption of ICTs by respondents at 1% probability level. Teachers’ attitude, teachers’ awareness significantly influences adoption of ICTs by respondents at 5% probability level. Word processors are perceived useful in setting tests and examination question papers, while, photocopy machine was perceived ease to use to make copies of teaching materials. Access to appropriate ICTs equipment and lack of infrastructure such as irregular electricity supply are the major challenges. The study recommends easy access, awareness and use of ICTs by instructors and regular supply of electricity to improve and stimulates adoption of ICTs by respondents.
8. Natural versus anthropogenic climate change: Swedish farmers’ joint construction of climate perceptions
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Asplund, Therese (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016
- Published:
- SAGE Journals
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 32 Document Number: D10596
- Journal Title:
- Public Understanding of Science
- Journal Title Details:
- 25(5), 560–575
- Notes:
- 16 pages., via online journal., While previous research into understandings of climate change has usually examined general public perceptions, this study offers an audience-specific departure point. This article analyses how Swedish farmers perceive climate change and how they jointly shape their understandings. The agricultural sector is of special interest because it both contributes to and is directly affected by climate change. Through focus group discussions with Swedish farmers, this study finds that (1) farmers relate to and understand climate change through their own experiences, (2) climate change is understood either as a natural process subject to little or no human influence or as anthropogenic and (3) various communication tools contribute to the formation of natural and anthropogenic climate change frames. The article ends by discussing frame resonance and frame clash in public understanding of climate change and by comparing potential similarities and differences in how various segments of the public make sense of climate change.
9. Predicting and communicating flood risk of transport infrastructure based on watershed characteristics
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Michielsen, Astrid (author), Kalantari, Zahra (author), Lyon, Steve W. (author), and Liljegren, Eva (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016-11-01
- Published:
- Elsevier
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 32 Document Number: D10620
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Environmental Management
- Journal Title Details:
- 182: 505-518
- Notes:
- 14 pages., via online journal., This research aims to identify and communicate water-related vulnerabilities in transport infrastructure, specifically flood risk of road/rail-stream intersections, based on watershed characteristics. This was done using flooding in Värmland and Västra Götaland, Sweden in August 2014 as case studies on which risk models are built. Three different statistical modelling approaches were considered: a partial least square regression, a binomial logistic regression, and artificial neural networks. Using the results of the different modelling approaches together in an ensemble makes it possible to cross-validate their results. To help visualize this and provide a tool for communication with stakeholders (e.g., the Swedish Transport Administration - Trafikverket), a flood ‘thermometer’ indicating the level of flooding risk at a given point was developed. This tool improved stakeholder interaction and helped highlight the need for better data collection in order to increase the accuracy and generalizability of modelling approaches.
10. Analysis of uncertainty consideration in environmental assessment:an empirical study of Canadian EA practice
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Lees, Juliette (author), Jaeger, Jochen A.G. (author), Gunn, Jill A.E. (author), and Noble, Bram F. (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016
- Published:
- Taylor & Francis
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 32 Document Number: D10632
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Environmental Planning and Management
- Journal Title Details:
- 59(11) 2024-2044
- Notes:
- 22 pages., via online journal., Identifying and communicating uncertainty is core to effective environmental assessment (EA). This study evaluates the extent to which uncertainties are considered and addressed in Canadian EA practice. We reviewed the environmental protection plans, follow-up programs, and panel reports (where applicable) of 12 EAs between 1995 and 2012. The types of uncertainties and levels of disclosure varied greatly. When uncertainties were acknowledged, practitioners adopted five different approaches to address them. However, uncertainties were never discussed or addressed in depth. We found a lack of suitable terminology and consistency in how uncertainties are disclosed, reflecting the need for explicit guidance, and we present recommendations for improvement. Canadian Environmental Impact Statements are not as transparent with respect to uncertainties as they should be, and uncertainties in EA need to be better considered and communicated.
11. Lab to land – factors driving adoption of dairy farming innovations among Indian farmers
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Thirunavukkarasu, D. (author) and Narmatha, N. (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016-10
- Published:
- India: Indian Academy of Sciences
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 32 Document Number: D10648
- Journal Title:
- Current Science
- Journal Title Details:
- 11(7): 1231-1234
- Notes:
- 5 pages., via online journal., In India sustaining dairy farming as a rural livelihood and to meet the growing demand of milk, necessitates development and dissemination of technology for improving the farm’s output. There is also a need to understand how far existing innovations are adopted by farmers and factors influencing adoption and/or rejection. Hence, the factors that influence adoption and the extent of adoption were consolidated from past research using meta analysis and other techniques. It was found that at large-level farmer’s knowledge (true effect size r value +0.64) and at medium-level (true effect size r value ranging from +0.32 to +0.47) attitude, risk-taking behaviour and economic motivation, milk production and sales, education, extension agency contacts and mass media exposure influenced adoption of dairy innovation. Further, along with the above factors poor innovation attributes were limiting adoption to 55%.
12. Empowering farmers to learn and innovate through integration of video-mediated and face-to-face extension approaches: the case of rice farmers in Uganda
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Karubanga, Gabriel (author), Kibwika, Paul (author), Okry, Florent (author), and Sseguya, Haroon (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016
- Published:
- Taylor & Francis
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 38 Document Number: D10697
- Journal Title:
- Cogent Food & Agriculture
- Journal Title Details:
- 2(1): 1-12
- Notes:
- 12 pages., Article #: 1274944, via online journal., Agricultural extension is perceived as the primary mechanism through which farmers expand their ability to adopt and adapt new technologies and ideas. The use of Information and Communication Technology like videos in extension is being fronted as an alternative to the conventional Face-to face extension approach (F2FEA). A comparison of effectiveness of the Video-mediated extension approach (VMEA) and F2FEA among rice farmers in two districts of Uganda challenges the independent use of the two approaches. A cross-sectional survey of two nonequivalent groups subjected to VMEA in Kamwenge and F2FEA in Hoima districts was conducted with 196 farmers. The results indicate greater potential for integration of VMEA and F2FEA as the two are complementary in the various stages of the farmer learning framework developed. VMEA is significantly better in awareness creation and sharing of knowledge and experiences while the F2FEA is significantly better at enhancing knowledge acquisition and retention and application. The relative strengths of VMEA and F2FEA can best be harnessed through integration of the approaches. The integration will not solve the problem of large farmer to extension ratio common in developing countries but will rather make the extension workers more effective. The integration however calls for rethinking of institutional arrangement, roles of the extension worker, and pragmatic retooling of the extension worker to embrace social learning principles that empower farmers to be more self-directed learners and innovators.
13. The distribution of farmer learning videos: Lessons from non-conventional dissemination networks in Benin
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Zoundji, Gérard C. (author), Okry, Florent (author), Vodouhê, Simplice D. (author), and Bentley, Jeffery W. (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016-01-01
- Published:
- Taylor & Francis
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 38 Document Number: D10698
- Journal Title:
- Cogent Food & Agriculture
- Journal Title Details:
- 2(1): 1-15
- Notes:
- 15 pages., Article #: 1277838, via online journal., Commercial channels can be non-conventional networks for disseminating agricultural information, especially if farmers are willing to pay for a DVD with learning videos. Using purposive sampling, we selected retailer and involved them in selling videos compiled in a DVD. Inside the jacket of DVD, we pasted a sticker listing a phone number that buyers or video viewers could call for further questions. We interviewed 341 of the buyers who called that number. After the phone interviews, snowball sampling was used to select 180 farmers for face-to-face interviews in order to validate the information collected during the telephone interviews and to understand the behavioural changes triggered by watching the videos. Within four months of first distributing DVDs to retailers, 80% of the 700 DVDs were sold. Distributing videos through commercial channels gives a fair chance to everyone to learn, since the DVDs were sold on the open market at an affordable price. About 84% of the DVDs were sold at 1 USD, suggesting that all of the respondents were willing to pay for learning DVDs; 86% of respondents said they now spent less money on pesticides after watching the videos. Private sector actors can become “new extensionists” and distribute agricultural information to rural populations.
14. Concepción de extensión rural en 10 países latinoamericanos
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Landini, Fernando (author) and Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Language:
- Spanish
- Publication Date:
- 2016-06
- Published:
- Argentina: Redalyc
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 101 Document Number: D10881
- Journal Title:
- Revista de Investigación Social
- Journal Title Details:
- 13(30) : 211-236
- Notes:
- 25 pages, Online journal article, Existen diferentes modelos para pensar la extensión rural. Con el fin de indagar las concepciones de extensión rural de los extensionistas que trabajan en diez diferentes países latinoamericanos se realizó una encuesta. La muestra fue no probabilística incidental (n=589). Se observa predominio de una concepción transferencista de la extensión rural en el promedio de las 10 muestras, con importantes diferencias entre países. La muestra uruguaya posee una orientación dialógica. No se observa presencia de concepciones asociadas al desarrollo local/territorial o a la noción de sistemas de innovación. Se recomienda implementar acciones para definir de manera crítica y consciente los modelos de extensión rural que se desea implementar.
15. Social media as a new playing field for the governance of agro-food sustainability
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Stevens, T.M. (author), Aarts, N. (author), Termeer, CJ A.M. (author), and Dewulf, A. (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016-02
- Published:
- Science Direct
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 102 Document Number: D10902
- Journal Title:
- Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability
- Journal Title Details:
- 18:99-106
- Notes:
- 8 pages., via online journal., Social media bring various stakeholders of the agro-food system together into a new playing field. This article reveals the dynamics of this playing field and the ways in which this can influence the governance of agro-food sustainability. We delineate three pathways that highlight the ways in which social media can have implications for the governance of agro-food sustainability; firstly, Hypes on agro-food sustainability issues, secondly, opportunities for the self-organization of food movements, and thirdly, data for new forms of agro-food governance. We conclude that while mass self-communication on social media forms an emergent force that disrupts agro-food governance, it also generates data that forms a resource for powerful players to regain control.
16. Unfolding the knowledge and power dynamics of the ‘farmers–rural extensionists’ interface in North-Eastern Argentina
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Landini, Fernando (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016-09-26
- Published:
- Argentina: Taylor & Francis
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 108 Document Number: D10943
- Journal Title:
- The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- 22(5) : 399-415
- Notes:
- 16 pages, via online journal article, Purpose: In this paper, the knowledge dynamics of the farmer–rural extensionist’ interface were explored from extensionists’ perspective with the aim of understanding the matchmaking processes between supply and demand of extension services at the micro-level. Design/methodology/approach: Forty semi-structured interviews were conducted with extensionists whom work in the North-Eastern, Argentine provinces. Findings: Two different, general types of knowledge dynamics were identified: one moderately diffusionist, based on a hierarchical relationship and the prioritisation of experts’ knowledge, and the other constructivist, based on horizontal processes of co-construction. Interestingly, some extensionists support beliefs pertaining to both approaches. They also highlight the importance of unceremonious trainings, interpersonal trust and making recommendations that take into account farmers’ rationale. Practical implications: Results show the persistence of diffusionist rural extension and that extensionists have different, even contradictory, extension approaches, which renders inappropriate any attempt to generalise their perspectives. Theoretical implications: This study suggests that farmers’ demand is the result of a constructive, interactive process, and thus is not prior to the interaction between the demand side (farmers) and the supply side (extensionists). Consequently, the knowledge and power dynamics that take place within the farmer–extensionist interface should be considered the nucleus of demand construction and the matchmaking process. Originality/value: This paper addresses the dynamic matchmaking process between supply and demand of extension services at the micro-level, suggesting it is a constructive process and showing the core role played by power dynamics.
17. Factors affecting performance of agricultural extension: evidence from Democratic Republic of Congo
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Ragasa, Catherina (author), Ulimwengo, John (author), Randriamamonjy, Josee (author), Badibanga, Thaddee (author), and International Food Policy Research Institution Washington, DC office Western and Central Africa Regional Office
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016-04
- Published:
- Netherlands: Taylor and Francis
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 108 Document Number: D10953
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- 22(2) : 113-143
- Notes:
- 32 pages, via online journal article, Purpose: As part of the institutional reforms and agricultural restructuring in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), this paper provides an assessment of the performance of the agricultural extension system as well as factors explaining it. Method: This paper involves key informants’ interviews and surveys of 107 extension organizations and 162 extension agents in randomly selected 156 villages, analyzed using qualitative and logistic regression methods. Findings and Practical Implications: Results show that despite having one of the highest extension agent-to-farmer ratio and a pluralistic extension system, DRC fails to deliver knowledge and technologies to rural areas due to lack of coordination, no unified and clear policy and mandate, lack of funding, aging and low competencies of agents, and lack of mobility and interactions of agents with key actors. This paper complements findings by other studies that number of agents is not a sufficient indication of performance, but an effective system needs to focus on the enabling environment for agents to be motivated to work as mandated. In this paper, enabling conditions that are found to be statistically significant are external funding, enforcement of performance targets, systems of rewards and sanctions, mobility to foster linkages, and skills development. Originality: This paper contributes by: (1) analyzing a cross-section of various organizations and agents to identify factors that explain variations in performance in a statistical and systematic approach; (2) providing insights on how to prioritize investments and options for a fragile state like DRC, with weak infrastructure and institutional capacity and with a long history of neglect for their national extension system; and (3) illustrating how a rich and well-cited conceptual framework can be implemented empirically to provide policy options for a country like DRC.
18. The evolution of the MasAgro hubs: responsiveness and serendipity as drivers of agricultural innovation in a dynamic and heterogeneous context
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Camacho-Villa, Tania Carolina (author), Almekinders, Conny (author), Hellin, Jon (author), Martinez-Cruz, Tania Eulalia (author), Rendon-Medel, Roberto (author), and International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, Mexico, D.F. Wageningen University, The Netherlands Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Mexico Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas University of Bonn, Germany
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016-10-17
- Published:
- Mexico: Taylor & Francis
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 108 Document Number: D10955
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- 22(5) : 455-470
- Notes:
- 17 pages, via online journal, Purpose: Little is known about effective ways to operationalize agricultural innovation processes. We use the MasAgro program in Mexico (which aims to increase maize and wheat productivity, profitability and sustainability), and the experiences of middle level ‘hub managers’, to understand how innovation processes occur in heterogeneous and changing contexts. Design/methodology/approach: We use a comparative case study analysis involving research tools such as documentary review, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and reflection workshops with key actors. Findings: Our research shows how a program, that initially had a relatively narrow technology focus, evolved towards an innovation system approach. The adaptive management of such a process was in response to context-specific challenges and opportunities. In the heterogeneous context of Mexico this results in diverse ways of operationalization at the hub level, leading to different collaborating partners and technology portfolios. Practical implications: MasAgro experiences merit analysis in the light of national public efforts to transform agricultural advisory services and accommodate pluralistic agricultural extension approaches in Latin America. Such efforts need long-term coherent macro level visions, frameworks and support, while the serendipitous nature of the process requires meso-level implementers to respond and adapt to and move the innovation process forward. Originality/value: This paper contributes to the debate on how to operationalize large programs by showing that the innovation support arrangements enacted in the field should allow for diversity and have a degree of flexibility to accommodate heterogeneous demands from farmers in different contexts as well as continuous changes in the politico- institutional environment.
19. Farmer participatory research: Why extension workers should understand and facilitate farmers’ role transitions
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Hauser, Michael (author), Lindtner, Mara (author), Prehsler, Sarah (author), Probst, Lorenz (author), and University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Austria
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016-07-30
- Published:
- Austria: Science Direct
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 109 Document Number: D10962
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Rural Studies
- Journal Title Details:
- 47(2016) : 52-61
- Notes:
- 9 pages, via online journal, Farmers who engage in farmer participatory research (FPR) change their established social roles in households and communities. As such, comprehension of farmers’ role transitions is important to understand the extrinsic and intrinsic factors impeding or supporting the uptake and use of FPR by farmers. The existing FPR literature, however, does not address such role transitions. In this study, we analyzed farmers’ experiences with FPR and underlying role transitions in a commercial organic agriculture project in western Uganda. We drew on quantitative and qualitative data from interviews, group discussions, and observations involving farmers and extension workers. Our results suggest extrinsic and intrinsic factors affect farmers’ self-conception, influencing their willingness to participate in FPR. The level of alignment between the self-conception and the anticipated role determines farmers’ decision regarding participation in FPR and affects their response pattern. Farmers’ response pattern and individual set of inhibitors and facilitators lead to the experience of role insufficiency or role mastery, which is crucial for farmers’ continuation or termination of on-farm experiments. Understanding and facilitating role transitions is, therefore, essential for sustaining on-farm experiments, which complements current technical FPR training.
20. Institutional economics of grain marketing in Russia: Insights from the Tyumen region
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Griewald, Yuliana (author) and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016-07-30
- Published:
- Germany: Elsevier
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 109 Document Number: D10963
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Rural Studies
- Journal Title Details:
- 47(2016) : 21-30
- Notes:
- 9 pages, via online journal, Grain marketing arrangements in modern Russia are far from what they were in the 1990s. Given that grain marketing is crucial for farm revenues and an adequate functioning of the agri-food system, this paper examines why different grain marketing contracts co-exist and how well they fit the local agri-food context. Semi-structured interviews with farmers, grain buyers and regional authorities were conducted in the region of Tyumen in 2013-2014. The analysis, grounded in new institutional economics, found that the traders’ contracts, compared to those offered by grain elevators, are often better suited to account for uncertainty as a salient property of marketing transactions, but discourage quality improvements and differentiation of grain. Furthermore, both contract types encourage strategic behaviour on the part of grain buyers. The paper also discusses the case in a broader theoretical and international context and offers a number of policy implications, such as those related to independent grain quality assessments and extension.
21. Farm exit intention and wellbeing: A study of Australian farmers
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Peel, Dominic (author), Berry, Helen L. (author), Schirmer, Jacki (author), and University of Canberra, Australia
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016-10
- Published:
- Australia: Elsevier
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 109 Document Number: D10964
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Rural Studies
- Journal Title Details:
- 47(2016) : 41-51
- Notes:
- 10 pages, via online journal, As the agricultural industries of developed countries undergo an extended period of change, increasing numbers of farmers are leaving farming. In this paper, we investigate the relationship between intention to exit farming and farmer wellbeing, drawing on and adapting the conservation of resources theory of stress. In a quantitative analysis of 674 Australian farmers, we show that the more likely a farmer is to leave farming, the poorer their wellbeing; but this is moderated by smaller farm size, greater profitability, earning a larger proportion of income off-farm and older age, all of which attenuate the relationship between exit intention and poorer wellbeing. We conclude that it is important for policy-makers to consider the wellbeing of farmers when designing strategies to assist exiting farmers, as poor wellbeing at exit may reduce capacity to adapt successfully to life after farming.
22. The influence of different message packaging, on the performance of field workers: a case study of finlay flowers Kericho
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Teno, Beatrice (author), Onyango, Chris A. (author), and Kibett, Joash (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016
- Published:
- ESci Journals Publishing
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 123 Document Number: D11157
- Journal Title:
- International Journal of Agricultural Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- 4(1)
- Notes:
- 8 pages., via online journal., This study seeks to explore the influence of forms of communication on the performance of field workers in Finlay Flowers Kericho, focusing on the Communication process and quality management in flower production. The study was conducted at Finlay Flowers one of the leading producer of cut flowers in Kenya. A total of 145 respondents were selected from a population of 1,175 interacting groups comprising of middle level managers and field workers. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires and an interview schedule and collected data was analysed using Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Findings revealed that all forms of communications had influence on performance of field staff with demonstrations appearing to be more influential in this regard. This is attributed to the fact that demonstration is a consultative event where the management directly involves the employees and advice on the specifications or product requirements. In conclusion, main driver of performance as revealed by the findings of the study meaningful communication process; senior management communication style, supportive work environment and line management style. Based on the findings, the study recommends that in order to improve performance, demonstration as a form of communication should be encouraged, as workers need detailed information on how to conduct their duties especially when handling the produce, also the use of interactive methods as forms of passing messages will help in improving production efficiency.
23. Engaging farmers in environmental management through a better understanding of behaviour
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Mills, Jane (author), Gaskell, Peter (author), Ingram, Julie (author), Dwyer, Janet (author), Reed, Matt (author), Short, Christopher (author), and University of Gloucestershire
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016-06-15
- Published:
- United Kingdom: Springer Nature
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 130 Document Number: D11282
- Journal Title:
- Agriculture and Human Values
- Journal Title Details:
- 34(2017) : 283-299
- Notes:
- 16 pages., via online journal, The United Kingdom’s approach to encouraging environmentally positive behaviour has been three-pronged, through voluntarism, incentives and regulation, and the balance between the approaches has fluctuated over time. Whilst financial incentives and regulatory approaches have been effective in achieving some environmental management behavioural change amongst farmers, ultimately these can be viewed as transient drivers without long-term sustainability. Increasingly, there is interest in ‘nudging’ managers towards voluntary environmentally friendly actions. This approach requires a good understanding of farmers’ willingness and ability to take up environmental activities and the influences on farmer behavioural change. The paper aims to provide insights from 60 qualitative farmer interviews undertaken for a research project into farmers’ willingness and ability to undertake environmental management, particularly focusing on social psychological insights. Furthermore, it explores farmers’ level of engagement with advice and support networks that foster a genuine interest, responsibility and a sense of personal and social norm to sustain high quality environmental outcomes. Two conceptual frameworks are presented for usefully exploring the complex set of inter-relationships that can influence farmers’ willingness to undertake environmental management practices. The research findings show how an in-depth understanding of farmer’s willingness and ability to adopt environmental management practices and their existing level of engagement with advice and support are necessary to develop appropriate engagement approaches to achieve sustained and durable environmental management.
24. Media and social licence: on being publicly useful in the Tasmanian forests conflict
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Lester, Libby (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2016-10
- Published:
- Oxford Academic
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 138 Document Number: D11502
- Journal Title:
- Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research
- Journal Title Details:
- 89(5): 542–551
- Notes:
- 10 pages., via online journal., This article analyses the role of media in the representation and circulation of the term ‘social licence’ within public debate. It does so in the context of an increasingly global political economy of forests, growing public interest in resource procurement and environmental sustainability, and new forms of mediatized environmental conflict that carry volatile notions of ‘the affected’. Drawing on a longitudinal study of the three-decade-long conflict over forests and forestry in the Australia's southern island state of Tasmania, this research outlines the emergence, embedding and decline of the term ‘social licence’ in national and local media coverage. The article argues that the term's openness and strategic deployment by stakeholders in news media exposes industries, markets and communities to continuing conflict, while making the term a site for conflict itself. The article concludes by asking how – within the context of expanding international markets and complex supply chains, and sophisticated use of media by campaigners, corporations and governments – ‘social licence’ can be a publicly useful concept.