13 pages., Article #: 3FEA2, via online journal., A multiple indicators, multiple causes, or MIMIC, modeling framework can be used for analyzing a variety of farmer decision-making situations where multiple outcomes are possible. Example applications include analyses of farmer use of multiple information sources, management practices, or technologies. We applied the framework to analyze use of multiple information sources by beef cattle farmers. We provide measures of how farmer demographics, farm characteristics, and risk attitudes influenced farmer use of information from Extension, producer groups, popular press, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Internet, and other farmers. Education and greater willingness to take risk positively influenced information use among the farmers we studied. Our process has implications for broader use within Extension.
Hibbs, Amber Campbell (author), Kahl, Daniel (author), PytlikZillig, Lisa (author), Champion, Ben (author), Abdel-Monem, Tarik (author), Steffensmeier, Timothy (author), Rice, Charles W. (author), and Hubbard, Kenneth (author)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2014-06
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 140 Document Number: D06056
Bates, Ronald O. (author), Ferry, Elizabeth (author), Guthrie, Thomas (author), May, Gerald (author), Rozeboom, Dale (author), and Siegford, Janice (author)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2012-06
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 140 Document Number: D06114
14 pages., Article #:3FEA9, via online journal., This article reports on a study to determine which information sources organic growers use to inform farming practices by conducting in-depth semi-structured interviews with 23 organic farmers across 17 North Carolina counties. Effective information sources included: networking, agricultural organizations, universities, conferences, Extension, Web resources, personal experience, books, organic buyers/certifiers, and consultants. Results suggest that grower-to-grower networking is a highly effective information-seeking behavior for organic growers. Recommendations for Extension personnel include reshaping educational programing for organic growers to include peer-to-peer information sharing, as well as increased investment to graduate and undergraduate programs that train future Extension agents in organic production approaches.
Larson, James A. (author), Roberts, Roland K. (author), English, Burton C. (author), Martin, Steven W. (author), Velandia, Margarita (author), Lambert, Dayton M. (author), and Jenkins, Amanda (author)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2010-10
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 179 Document Number: C35994
James F. Evans Collection; See C04120 for original, The study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison seeks to determine how much a farmer will actually use his/her computer after purchase. The introductory study looked broadly at the farmers' background, environment, and personality. It set out to discover what focuses in farm life enhance or diminish a farmer's computer use. The variables suggested include: Complexity of Farm, Degree of External Support, Age, Views on Management, Time, Experience, network, Availability of Information, and Personality and Approach to Learning. Several implications are suggested by these preliminary findings that might facilitate the use of computers.
