Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 143 Document Number: D06433
Notes:
Website of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists. 2 pages., Agricultural journalist describes paralysis of agriculture news in Burundi. Reports having been interrogated by police.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 145 Document Number: D06539
Notes:
Research summary from the Center for Public Issues Education, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville. 3 pages.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 145 Document Number: D06545
Notes:
News release from the National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety, Marshfield, Wisconsin. 1 page., Identifies some types of farm safety activities considered important to address.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 147 Document Number: D06673
Notes:
Online via Sullivan Higdon & Sink. 3 pages., News summary of a 2016 FoodThink study among U.S. consumers. Refers to upswing in consumer perception of the food industry since tracking began in 2012.
Settle, Quisto (author), McCarty, Keelee (author), Rumble, Joy N. (author), and Ruth, Taylor K. (author)
Format:
Conference paper
Publication Date:
2016-02
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 162 Document Number: D08127
Notes:
Research paper presented in the Agricultural Communications Section, Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists (SAAS) in San Antonio,Texas, February 7-8, 2016. 24 pages.
Estes, Stuart (author), Edgar, Leslie D. (author), Johnson, Donald M. (author), Christensen, Karen (author), and Goodwin, H.L. (author)
Format:
Conference paper
Publication Date:
2016-02
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 162 Document Number: D08131
Notes:
Research paper presented in the Agricultural Communications Section, Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists (SAAS), in San Antonio, Texas, February 7-8, 2016. 25 pages.
Lamm, Alexa J. (author), Lundy, Lisa K. (author), Warner, Laura (author), and Lamm, Kevan W. (author)
Format:
Conference paper
Publication Date:
2016-02
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 162 Document Number: D08132
Notes:
Research paper presented in the Agricultural Communications Section, Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists (SAAS), in San Antonio,Texas, February 7-8,2016. 24 pages.
Rohling, Katie (author), Wandersee, Cassie (author), Baker, Lauri M. (author), and Tomlinson, Peter (author)
Format:
Conference paper
Publication Date:
2016-02
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 162 Document Number: D08133
Notes:
Research paper presented in the Agricultural Communications Section, Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists (SAAS) in San Antonio, Texas, February 7-8, 2016. 23 pages.
Ullah, Raza (author), Rehman, Mariam (author), Anjum, Maria (author), Kamran, Muhammad Asif (author), Bakhsh, Khuda (author), Saboor, Abdul (author), and Lahore College for Women University, Lahore
Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, Faisalabad
COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Vehari
PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2016
Published:
Pakistan: Asianet-Pakistan
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D08246
Amelung, Dorothee (author), Fischer, Helen (author), Kruse, Lenelis (author), Sauerborn, Rainer (author), and Department of Psychology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
Climate Change and Health Working Group, Institue of Public Health, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
Claremont Graduate University, USA
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2016-08-31
Published:
Switzerland: Frontiers Media
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 164 Document Number: D08300
pgs. 559–574, Via online journal, The aim of this paper is to assess the eco-efficiency of dairy farms in Spain. To do so, we use data from a survey carried out in 2010 for the specific purpose of analysing the environmental performance of 50 dairy farms in the Spanish region of Asturias. The survey contains information on nutrients balances and greenhouse gas emissions which is used to calculate environmental pressure indicators. Eco-efficiency is measured using data envelopment analysis. We analyse the influence of farmers’ socio-economic characteristics and attitudes in explaining these eco-efficiency scores using truncated regression and bootstrapping procedures. On average, the dairy farms are found to be highly eco-inefficient. Among our results, farmers that are younger, that plan to continue in operation in the foreseeable future and that participate more in training schemes are found to be more eco-efficient. Self-reported positive environmental habits are also reflected in actual eco-efficient performance. We quantify these potential gains in eco-efficiency through a simulation analysis based on the estimated model’s coefficients.
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.
10 pages., Via open source journal., Farmbook is a novel information communication technology (ICT) tool for agricultural extension that is currently being field tested by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Southern and East Africa. Farmbook enables extension agents to assess productivity and profitability of farming enterprises in a faster and more reliable manner, so as to increase farmer incomes and achieve food security. This study looked at the relationship between challenges faced by extension agents testing the Farmbook application and select socio-economic indicators influencing their work. Specific objectives were to identify and categorize the challenges facing extension agents in the field as they used Farmbook, assess gender differences in the use of Farmbook by extension agents, understand the relationship between socio-economic status of extension agents and the challenges faced in using Farmbook. Data were collected through document reviews, administration of a structured questionnaire and focus group meetings with field agents. Descriptive statistics and multivariate techniques were used to analyze data. The results show that personal and wider socio-economic conditions do have an impact on the proficiency of extension agents using Farmbook. The study goes on to recommend measures to improve the training and ICT proficiency of extension agents adopting Farmbook
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.
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.
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%.
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.
15 pages., The paper analyses characteristics of vertical relationships of organic supply chains with a specific focus on the processing and retailing sectors. The analysis takes into account different regions of the EU Mediterranean area. Data were collected through interviews using an ad hoc questionnaire. The survey was based on a sample of 306 firms, including processors and retailers. The analysis revealed that a relevant aspect for the processing firms of organic products concerns the guaranteeing of safety and quality levels for the products. The main tools to implement the quality management are based on the adoption of specific production regulations and quality controls. The premium price most frequently applied by processors ranges from 10% to 40% and similar values are revealed for retailers. The diffusion of supply contracts allows the vertical coordination between agriculture and processing firms in the organic supply chains. The main distribution channels for the processing firms are represented by specialised shops in organic products, direct sales and supermarkets.
