14 pages., The agricultural sector has been influenced significantly by agriculture and natural resources (ANR) policies voted in by elected officials. Many agricultural organizations and their members have sought to provide a ‘voice’ for the ANR industry and communicate with policymakers about emerging issues. It is necessary that such organizations and members be able to use that voice effectively. This study was conducted to examine the communication preferences of Florida agricultural organization members and factors that may encourage them to contact elected officials about an ANR policy. Respondents in this study least preferred to be contacted by their organization(s) via phone call or text message. They also identified local Extension offices and the university as the most trustworthy sources of communication regarding ANR policy. When contacting members to spur involvement in ANR policy decisions, organizational leaders should use a variety of communication mediums, including email magazines and printed newsletters and magazines, to promote engagement in ANR policy discussions. Future research is needed to examine other factors that may influence agriculture organization members’ communication with elected officials, as well as the types of messaging strategies organizational leaders can use to further members’ engagement in ANR policy decisions.
Toland, Janet (author) and Centre for Community Networking Research, Monash University, Australia.
Format:
Paper
Publication Date:
2009-09-03
Published:
New Zealand
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 177 Document Number: C30556
Notes:
Presented at the Prato CIRN Community Informatics Conference, Prato, Italy, November 4-6, 2009. 11 pages., Analyzes the development of soft networks and hard network created by information and communication technologies.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C37110
Notes:
See C37105 for original, Pages 261-275 in Alessandro Bonanno, Hans Bakker, Raymond Jussaume, Yoshio Kawamura and Mark Shucksmith (eds.), From community to consumption: new and classical themes in rural sociological research. Research in Rural Sociology and Development, Volume 16. Emerald Group Publishing Ltd., Bingley, U.K. 275 pages., Case study of the "Rural Heroines Exciting Network" - one of the first national networks of women farmers in Japan.
