18 pages, via online journal, Consumers are concerned about the quality and safety of their food at all times during the food supply chain, but sensationalized media coverage, lack of knowledge, and recent recalls have made it difficult for consumers to trust the agricultural industry. Because trust drives risk perceptions and acceptance, it is important for agricultural communicators to understand how personal characteristics influence trust in the food supply chain. To fulfill the purpose of this study, a national quota sample of 847 responses to an online questionnaire were collected in March 2019. The results indicated respondents held a moderate level of trust toward production agriculture, food processing, food retail, and food safety regulation, with the greatest level of trust assigned to production agriculture. Trust in these sectors of the food supply chain were also positively correlated to one another. Regression models for trust in each agricultural sector were significant but only accounted for 9% of the variance in the dependent variable at most. Direct engagement in agriculture was a positive predictor in trust across all four areas, and use of social media was a negative predictor for trust. Income and gender were also found to be predictors of trust in production agriculture, food processing, food retail, and food safety regulation. The findings from this study can be used to guide future communication to increase the level of trust in the food supply chain, which would also increase consumers’ purchasing intent.
Analysis of membership data from the Association for Communication Excellence in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Life and Human Scienes (ACE). Member retention was found to be associated with involvement level and sense of commitment/identification, but not with geography.
search through journal, This study examined the daily influences that affected the behavior of agricultural communications personnel as professional communicators. If focused on the conditions that the employees perceived as influencing their behavior and how these phenomena related to the total communications process of the department. The researcher used Strauss and Corbin's grounded theory method of qualitative research. The findings of this study suggest that changing organizational needs are affecting the professional behavior of communications personnel. The relationship between agricultural communications departments and their clientele, both internal and external, is changing because of budget-slashing priorities common throughout institutions of higher education. (original)
Documents needs for incorporating critical thinking into agricultural communications curricula by more use of real-world assignments and by emphasizing skills in analysis and research.
