Number of results to display per page
Search Results
172. Bridging the gender gap in forest stewardship: facilitating programs for women landowners
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Koshollek, Alanna (author), Thostenson, Katy (author), and Shaw, Bret (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2020-04
- Published:
- United States: Extension Journal, Inc.
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 203 Document Number: D12314
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- vol. 58, num. 2
- Notes:
- 9 pages, Nationwide, women woodland owners are increasingly taking on the primary decision-making role for their land. In Wisconsin and beyond, most existing landowner outreach efforts target mixed-gender audiences. We explored how facilitation techniques can be incorporated into a women-centric workshop to increase women landowners' confidence, knowledge, and readiness to take action in forest stewardship. We highlight three core techniques Extension workshop developers can use to promote landowner learning and engagement: creating space for participant-driven open dialogue, generating opportunities for peer-to-peer learning, and enabling participants to receive personalized advice from professionals about their land.
173. Building Bridges: improving extension support to organic growers in North Georgia
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Marabesi, Amanda Olbrick (author), Kelsey, Kathleen D. (author), Anderson, James C. (author), and Fuhrman, Nicholas E. (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2021-02-18
- Published:
- USA: School of Human Sciences at Mississippi State University
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12728
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Human Sciences and Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- Vol. 9, N. 1
- Notes:
- 20 pages, Organic agriculture has the potential to improve the environmental performance of U.S. agriculture, supporting increasing food demand and diversification of food consumption while improving the quality of ecosystems. Organic growers are challenged by a lack of Cooperative Extension agent support as agents have not served organic growers to the same extent as conventional growers nationwide. Rogers’ (2003) diffusion of innovations theory guided our phenomenological inquiry to explore (a) what agents experienced while supporting organic growers, and (b) how agents experienced providing support to organic growers in north Georgia. According to participants, the essence of the support offered to organic growers was an uneven bridge. Agents were willing to provide growers with the resources to support organic production; however, they lacked theoretical and empirical knowledge regarding organic agricultural production that would enable them to establish stronger relationships with growers. Findings from the study and the uneven bridge metaphor led to an original model to assist Extension agents in better serving the organic agricultural community.
174. Building Self-reliance: A Framework to Evaluate Smallholder Coffee Farmers’ Pursuit of Commercialization
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Silvert, Colby (author), Diaz, John (author), Warner, Laura (author), Grady Roberts, T. (author), and Injoque, Raul (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2021-08-21
- Published:
- United States: New Prairie Press
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12525
- Journal Title:
- Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education
- Journal Title Details:
- Vol. 28(4)
- Notes:
- 18 pages, This study examines the application of a self-reliance framework for practitioners and evaluators to better understand the capacities and intrinsic factors impacting smallholder coffee farmers’ commercialization behaviors. We surveyed 40 smallholder coffee producers in Peru using a quantitative instrument. Data were analyzed to determine if statistical relationships exist between farmers’ self-reliance (measured via knowledge and skills, attitudes, and aspirations) and their commercialization behaviors. Findings indicate the self-reliance framework effectively illustrates relationships between farmers’ aspirations, knowledge and skills and their commercialization behaviors, while future, additional studies are needed to better measure and understand the role of commercialization-related attitudes. Practitioners can leverage the study’s findings by using a self-reliance framework to infer farmers’ likeliness to pursue sustainable commercialization practices and align their trainings and design interventions based on evaluation findings. The conceptual self-reliance framework is the first of its kind applied for smallholder coffee commercialization. The findings demonstrate that self-reliance concepts employed recently in other contexts may potentially be used similarly by extension and development facilitators.
175. Building a culture of creativity in your produce departments
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Nickle, Ashley (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2020-04-15
- Published:
- USA
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 202 Document Number: D11976
- Journal Title:
- Produce Market Guide
- Notes:
- Online from publication. 9 pages., Advice from a fresh produce marketer with more than 30 years of experience in a supermarket chain. "The environment you want is one of being a merchant. ... It is somewhat of a lost art in today's fast paced world of data, low price and lack of labor."
176. Building engagement in Facebook: A case study with Utah State University Extension
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Kesler, Kenna R. (author), Hall, Kelsey (author), and Spielmaker, Debra (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2021-02
- Published:
- United States: New Prairie Press
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 202 Document Number: D12104
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Applied Communications
- Journal Title Details:
- Vol. 105, Issue 1
- Notes:
- 24 pgs., In order to stay relevant in an online world, Extension must properly use social networking platforms to effectively reach diverse audiences regarding agricultural and natural resource issues. However, few studies have focused on how Extension uses Facebook to effectively accomplish its goal. This study’s purpose was to explore how Utah State University Extension Sustainability uses Facebook to engage followers. The researchers conducted a quantitative content analysis of 504 messages posted to the USU Extension Sustainability Facebook page. Graphics and links were the most common post characteristics used by the organization. Text-only posts and posts containing videos were utilized the least. Food was the most common area of sustainability discussed on the page. Posts containing videos, shared content, or that tagged other Facebook pages in messages experienced statistically significantly higher user engagement than posts without those characteristics. Posts containing hashtags experienced statistically significantly lower engagement. Neutral sentiment appeared in the majority of posts. Additionally, information seeking was the most dominant communicative function among the posts. Neither the type of sentiment nor communicative functions were significantly connected to engagement. Future research should determine changes in knowledge, attitudes, intentions, and behavior as a result of exposure to, and engagement with, the Facebook page. Additionally, a qualitative study determining consumers’ attitudes toward Facebook content can provide a deeper understanding of the audience’s thought processes and content preferences. Page administrators should craft engaging content that builds community among followers.
177. Building global leaders through field research and extension experiences in Belize
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Gill, Tom (author) and Willcox, Adam S. (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-05
- Published:
- USA: New Prairie Press
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12683
- Journal Title:
- Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education
- Journal Title Details:
- Vol. 29, Iss.2
- Notes:
- 21 pages, One of the most complex agricultural and natural resources challenges of our time is reconciling sustainable global food security and biodiversity conservation. Providing undergraduate students effective, learning experiences to develop technical and cultural competency prepares them to address this challenge and become global leaders in their disciplines. A three-year experiential research and extension project brought together 14 students and 10 faculty mentors to investigate smallholder farmers practicing conservation-compatible adjacent to the Vaca Forest Reserve in Belize. We used an agroecological approach to foster systems-level thinking and develop transdisciplinary skills of undergraduate students. Students completed applied individual research projects that explored the challenge of food security and biodiversity conservation in the tropics, and worked collaboratively with local stakeholders, design and implement extension projects based on research results. Student and faculty teams assessed cropping and soil management practices; social and economic systems; and wildlife, forestry, and ecosystem services. We assessed student learning outcomes with a tool commonly used for evaluating undergraduate research. Students reported learning gains in attitudes and behaviors toward research, mindset towards research, ability to think and work like a scientist, and research skills. Students also reported positive working relationships with mentors and peers, and a high level of publication and presentation outputs. Students reported that their Belize experience helped develop their agroecological and cross-cultural knowledge and skills, and prepared them for their next career steps. We conclude with recommendations for higher education institutions wishing to develop meaningful global undergraduate research experiences that can build the next generation of leaders.
178. Burger King ditches TV ad, asks leading extension scientist for help
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Brooks, Rhonda (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2020-07-22
- Published:
- USA
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 201 Document Number: D11910
- Journal Title:
- Drovers
- Notes:
- Online from publication 2 pages., Report about removal of Burger King TV advertisements inaccurately touting the use of lemongrass in cows' diets to reduce methane emissions by "up to 33%."
179. Butter cows and butter buildings: a history of an unconventional sculptural medium
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Simpson, Pamela H. (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2019
- Published:
- USA
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 132 Document Number: D11347
- Journal Title:
- Sculpture Review
- Journal Title Details:
- 68(4) : 40-59
- Notes:
- 20 pages., Via online., Historical analysis of butter sculpture within the context of food as art, and as a way to promote butter as the natural, healthy alternative to oleomargarine.
180. COVID-19 and the Sustainability of Agricultural Extension Models
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Siankwilimba, E. (author), Hiddlestone-Mumford, J. (author), Hang’ombe Mudenda, B.M. (author), Mumba, C. (author), and Hoque, Md. E (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-01-05
- Published:
- United Kingdom: Visnav
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12485
- Journal Title:
- International Journal of Applied Chemical and Biological Sciences
- Journal Title Details:
- Vol. 3 (1)
- Notes:
- 20 pages., Agricultural extension and advisory services in information and technology dissemination and delivery are critical in a developing country’s food security and sustainability. Without extension service provision, the productivity and production smallholder farmers are experiencing would have been much lower, and current global hunger and malnutrition worse. This paper assesses the effects of COVID-19 on the sustainability of agricultural extension models/approaches for smallholder farmers in developing countries. Over 60 papers were reviewed covering 2019-2021, commencing with the disease outbreak in China. Based on characteristics and usage, the findings indicate most reviewed extension models were disrupted. No single model was entirely disbanded as the impact of COVID-19 was being felt. However, each model incorporated a digital means of communication to keep farmers and service providers in touch. There is considerable criticism around the inadequacy of these extension techniques in advancing the agenda for smallholder farming’s long-term viability that needs to be addressed