5 pages., Via online magazine., Winner of the 2017 Borlaug cast communication award, Jayson Lusk, shares the three challenges he sees in effectively communicating with the general public as well as some potential solutions.
2 pages., Posted online February 12, 2020., Brief news item announces that during December farm broadcaster Orion Samuelson (WGN Radio, Chicago, IL, and "This Week in Agri-Business" television program) marked his 45th year of doing a live year-end TV-radio interview with the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. It was conducted, as traditionally, in the office of the USDA Secretary in Washington, D.C.
25 pages, The 2020 growing season presented new and significant challenges for farmers and farms across the United States as they navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. The rich and diverse agricultural landscape of Washington State offers a valuable microcosm in which to explore the experiences of farms in the U.S. during the pandemic. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on directly marketing small farms in western Washington State, with a focus on farmers’ experiences with resilience. We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 15 farmers and used thematic analysis to explore the influence of the pandemic on overall experiences, responses, and values and perceptions related to small farms. Interviewees provided insights on the impacts of the pandemic on their daily farm operations, production costs, marketing channels, demand, and revenue. Farmers also reported shifting personal and public attitudes towards small farms during the pandemic. Product diversity, flexibility, multiple forms of support, values, and access to resources emerged as drivers of COVID-19 impacts and farm adaptations. When compared to existing frameworks on farm resilience, farms in this study are seen to demonstrate resilience via buffer and adaptive capabilities, which enable them to absorb and adjust to shocks. Farmers also discussed resilience via transformative capability, the potential to create new systems, leveraging the collective power of small farms to shape future food systems. Future research on the resilience of small farms should focus on ways to both promote resilience attributes and facilitate the ability of farmers to act on resilience capabilities.
USA: Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D08960
Notes:
Page 21 in Lucinda Crile, Findings from studies of bulletins, news stories, and circular letters. Extension Service Circular 488. Revision of Extension Service Circular 461, which it supersedes. May 1953. 24 pages. Summary of Bulletin 12 (and master's thesis), Department of Agricultural Journalism, University of Wisconsin, Madison. 1942. 16 pages.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 161 Document Number: D07897
Notes:
In the e-book: Kerry J. Byrnes, Giants in their realms: close encounters of the celebrity kind. Posted on the website of Okemos High School Alumni, Okemos, Michigan. 16 pages.
Online from publication., This report describes a petition by 11 Southeast Alaska Native Tribes to create a "Traditional Homelands Conservation Rule." It is a new strategy in tribal nations' ongoing efforts to hold the federal government to its legal responsibility to consult with them on projects that impact them. It includes case examples of past failures to do so.
Block, John (author / U.S. Secretary of Agriculture)
Format:
Speech
Publication Date:
1984-06-11
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 67 Document Number: D10742
Notes:
Claude W. Gifford Collection. Beyond his materials in the ACDC collection, the Claude W. Gifford Papers, 1919-2004, are deposited in the University of Illinois Archives. Serial Number 8/3/81. Locate finding aid at https://archives.library.illinois.edu/archon/, Speech written for presentation to the first Agricultural Communicators Congress, Washington, D.C., June 11, 1984. 8 pages., Author presents 12 features that he ascribes to the role, work, and impact of agricultural journalists and communicators. Among them: "you are national treasuries of this land of ours." He describes current issues facing agriculture and discusses elements of a 2018 farm bill to be developed.
USA: Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D08953
Notes:
Page 10 in Lucinda Crile, Findings from studies of bulletins, news stories, and circular letters. Extension Service Circular 488. Revision of Extension Service Circular 461, which it supersedes. May 1953. 24 pages. Summary of a research project, University of Wisconsin, Madison. 1928. 20 pages.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 68 Document Number: D10749
Notes:
52 pages., Claude W. Gifford Collection. Beyond his materials in the ACDC collection, the Claude W. Gifford Papers, 1919-2004, are deposited in the University of Illinois Archives. Serial Number 8/3/81. Locate finding aid at https://archives.library.illinois.edu/archon/, Claude W. Gifford Collection.
Brannan, Charles F. (author / U.S. Secretary of Agriculture)
Format:
Speech
Publication Date:
1948-11-09
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 64 Document Number: D10740
Notes:
14 pages., Claude W. Gifford Collection. Beyond his materials in the ACDC collection, the Claude W. Gifford Papers, 1919-2004, are deposited in the University of Illinois Archives. Serial Number 8/3/81. Locate finding aid at https://archives.library.illinois.edu/archon/, Speech at a session of the Division of Agriculture, 62nd annual meeting of the Association of Land-Grant Colleges and Universities, Washington, D.C., November 9, 1948., "Personally, I think that our democracy is very strong and that there is nothing wrong with it that education won't cure." ... "Let us so educate that a free and progressive society will be the living monument to our efforts."
Hayes, Jack (author / Editor, Yearbook of Agriculture, USDA)
Format:
Report
Publication Date:
1967
Published:
USA: Office of Information, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 73 Document Number: D10784
Notes:
Claude W. Gifford Collection. Beyond his materials in the ACDC collection, the Claude W. Gifford Papers, 1919-2004, are deposited in the University of Illinois Archives. Serial Number 8/3/81. Locate finding aid at https://archives.library.illinois.edu/archon/, 66 pages., Informal history of the U.S. Yearbook of Agriculture, 1849-1967. Describes topical and publishing highlights of individual years.
17 pages, Little is known about how farms and markets are connected. Identifying critical gaps and central hubs in food systems is of importance in addressing a variety of concerns, such as navigating rapid shifts in marketing practices as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and related food shortages. The constellation of growers and markets can also reinforce opportunities to shift growing and eating policies and practices with attention to addressing racial and income inequities in food system ownership and access. With this research, we compare network methods for measuring centrality and sociospatial orientations in food systems using two of America’s most high-producing agricultural counties. Though the counties are adjacent, we demonstrate that their community food systems have little overlap in contributing farms and markets. Our findings show that the community food system for Yolo County is tightly interwoven with Bay Area restaurants and farmers’ markets. The adjacent county, Sacramento, branded itself as America’s Farm-to-Fork capital in 2012 and possesses network hubs focused more on grocery stores and restaurants. In both counties, the most central actors differ and have been involved with the community food system for decades. Such findings have implications beyond the case studies, and we conclude with considerations for how our methods could be standardized in the national agricultural census.
21 pages, via online journal, How an agricultural organization handles the way the media reports a crisis can have an impact on the public’s perceptions of the organization, and sometimes the industry as a whole. The popularity of social media outlets as a venue for disseminating and gathering information and news makes the use of social media surrounding agricultural crises an important topic to investigate (Glynn, Huge, & Hoffman 2012; Hermida, 2010). A qualitative case study was conducted to investigate the use of social media tools during an agricultural crisis. The participants – communications directors, social media managers, and individuals with a close connection to the crisis under study – reported that social media was a major component of their communication efforts surrounding each crisis. Participants felt social media was very effective in these situations and had a major impact on their communication efforts. Although no participants reported using a structured social media strategy or crisis communication plan, they stated a need for such guidelines in the agricultural industry. From the data analyzed in this study, a model for using social media during a crisis situation, aimed specifically for use by those in the agricultural industry, was developed. This project was funded through the USDA's Beginning Farmers & Ranchers Project.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 161 Document Number: D07900
Notes:
In the e-book: Kerry J. Byrnes, Giants in their realms: close encounters of the celebrity kind. Posted on the website of Okemos High School Alumni, Okemos, Michigan. 48 pages.
Beal, George M. (author), Bohlen, Joe M. (author), and Lingren, Herbert G. (author)
Format:
Report
Publication Date:
1966
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 15 Document Number: B01824
Notes:
#980, Harold Swanson Collection. Claude W. Gifford Collection., Ames, IA : Agricultural and Home Economics Experiment Station, Cooperative Extension Service, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, 1966. 24 p. (Special Report No.49)
9 pages., Article # 1RIB4, Via online journal., Food hubs represent a business model through which farmers can collectively market product to access new supply chains and buyers can efficiently access locally sourced foods. Many farmer marketing cooperatives fit within the food hub definition and have existed for decades. Accordingly, much can be learned from them to support food hub business planning efforts. We developed and synthesized case studies of three successful cooperatives in order to match key food hub operational challenges with recommended best management practices. Such information is useful for Extension education efforts supporting the development of economically viable food hub businesses.
1 page., Via IFAS Extension, University of Florida, These flyers, written by Natalie Seymour, Mary Yavelak, Candice Christian, and Ben Chapman (NC State University Extension), provide quick, digestible information regarding prevention of COVID-19 and procedures for food service, grocery stores, and other food-related businesses. This flyer in particular provides guidance regarding takeout and COVID-19. Published by the UF/IFAS Food Science and Human Nutrition Department.
1 page., Via IFAS Extension, University of Florida, These flyers, written by Natalie Seymour, Mary Yavelak, Candice Christian, and Ben Chapman (NC State University Extension), provide quick, digestible information regarding prevention of COVID-19 and procedures for food service, grocery stores, and other food-related businesses. This flyer in particular provides information about food safety in relation to COVID-19. Published by the UF/IFAS Food Science and Human Nutrition Department.
Online via Drovers News Source. 3 pages., Announces a petition from the United States Cattlemen's Association to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service to address "Product of the U.S.A. and "Made in the U.S.A. claims on U.S beef. Includes a link to full petition (199 pages). The petition ends: "To eliminate the likelihood of confusion and to better inform consumers, USDA contends that voluntary labels indication 'Made in USA' and 'Product of USA' or similar content should be limited to beef from cattle born, raise, and harvested in the United States."
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 202 Document Number: D11945
Notes:
From Agri-Pulse via online from AgriMarketing Weekly. 1 page., "Key voices from new and innovative meat technology industries are calling for mandatory labeling of cell-based meat and for more sector feedback before those labels are developed."
Perspectives on USDA recommendation for staff members to refer to "climate change" as "weather extremes" and "climate change adaption" to "resilience to weather extremes."
2pgs, For farmers, filling out the USDA’s Census of Agriculture before the February 6 deadline is more than a legal obligation. It’s a way to keep watch over our farmlands and help bring about necessary changes.
Gifford, Claude W. (author / Director, Office of Information, U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Format:
Commentary
Publication Date:
Circa 1973
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 68 Document Number: D10748
Notes:
2 pages., Claude W. Gifford Collection. Beyond his materials in the ACDC collection, the Claude W. Gifford Papers, 1919-2004, are deposited in the University of Illinois Archives. Serial Number 8/3/81. Locate finding aid at https://archives.library.illinois.edu/archon/, Claude W. Gifford Collection., Emphasis on writing public information that is readable and understandable. Cites an example of a proposed news release from the deputy of one USDA agency. It contained a 68-word sentence found not understandable.
13 pages., Via online journal, Consumers are increasingly using their purchasing power to enact their politics and activism. I examine how consumption at farmers’ markets fits into this trend. The consumption of local and organic food and the number of farmers’ markets have drastically increased in recent years. This research examines the ways interpersonal relationships, community ties and morality (ethical consumption) relate to commodification at local farmers’ markets. Specifically, this research is framed through Marx’s understanding and critique of capitalism, including his concept of commodity fetishism. Using Radin’s (1996) indicia of commodification, I explore the degree to which relationships, community and morality either are commodifiable or resist commodification. Using a combination of extant literature as well as interview and observational data from a 2011–2012 market study, I discovered that relationships and community ties resist commodification but morality is commodifiable in this space. Specifically, I argue that the contingent and voluntary nature of human communication as a two-way process is one of the key reasons that interpersonal relationships and community ties resist commodification.
Gifford, Claude W. (author / Director, Office of Communication, U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Format:
Correspondence
Publication Date:
1973-09-18
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 67 Document Number: D10741
Notes:
Claude W. Gifford Collection. Beyond his materials in the ACDC collection, the Claude W. Gifford Papers, 1919-2004, are deposited in the University of Illinois Archives. Serial Number 8/3/81. Locate finding aid at https://archives.library.illinois.edu/archon/, Claude W. Gifford Collection. 9 pages., In a memo to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, author identifies elements of effective communications management within an organization. He describes steps taken to achieve it in the USDA, and responds to suggestions of an ad hoc committee.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 26 Document Number: B02636
Notes:
see also B02142, B02637, abstract available in Main Stacks 630.73 Un364r, East Lansing, MI : American Association of Agricultural College Editors, 1961. 17 p.
13 pages., Article #:v58-1a2, via online journal., According to the 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, without urgent global changes, climate catastrophe caused by warming of greater than 1.5°C will occur by 2030, endangering the planet's capacity to sustain human populations and livelihoods. The National Network for Sustainable Living Education administered a national survey in January 2017 to assess how well-positioned Extension is to address sustainability in the communities the organization serves. Educators from 40 states responded, and 1,395 usable surveys were received. Survey results will help Extension employees discover opportunities for innovation and relevancy in their programming.
11 pages, While cow's milk and plant-based milk are often hypothesized to be substitutes, much remains unknown about the impacts that plant-based milks have on the retail price for cow's milk, if any. We explore the individual retail price relationship between two plant-based milks, almond and soy, with cow's milk. If the markets are cointegrated, and shocks in the plant-based markets affect the cow's milk market, it can add volatility to cow's milk prices, which could have implications for costs and benefits of the USDA Dairy Margin Coverage Program and price calculations by the Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMO). However, while we find evidence that plant-based milk prices react to shocks in cow's milk prices, we do not find evidence that cow's milk prices respond to changes in plant-based milk prices.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 69 Document Number: D10726
Notes:
#980, Claude W. Gifford Collection. Beyond his materials in the ACDC collection, the Claude W. Gifford Papers, 1919-2004, are deposited in the University of Illinois Archives. Serial Number 8/3/81. Locate finding aid at https://archives.library.illinois.edu/archon/, Three-ring binder in the Claude W. Gifford Collection, Agricultural Communications Documentation Center., When the author provided his papers to the University of Illinois Archives he preceded each item with a written summary of what was in that entry. This three-ring binder contains copies of the 80 written summaries. An "item" is a topical collection of the author's materials.
9 pages., Online via UI e-subscription., Author explored dual pressures on the U.S.Forest Service, based on changing culture of the home organization and external environmental factors involving topics such as forest plans, timber sales, oil and gas leases, and grazing permits on public land. Described approaches and experiences of the Forest Service, which as among the first federal agencies to institutionalize dispute resolution procedures formally and did so on its own initiative.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 2 Document Number: B00211
Notes:
AgComm Teaching. Hal R. Taylor Collection, CRC Report No. 3. Communications Research Center, School of Public Relations and Communication, Boston University. 51pp.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 67 Document Number: D10744
Notes:
Claude W. Gifford Collection. Beyond his materials in the ACDC collection, the Claude W. Gifford Papers, 1919-2004, are deposited in the University of Illinois Archives. Serial Number 8/3/81. Locate finding aid at https://archives.library.illinois.edu/archon/, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture's Memorandum No. 1798, signed by Earl Butz. 4 pages., Establishes the Department of Communication, USDA. Memorandum involves responsibilities, delegations of authority, and immediate actions to be taken. Replaces the current Office of Information.
USA: Agriculture Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 197 Document Number: D09544
Notes:
Hal R. Taylor Collection, Extension Service Circular No. 509, Summary of national data about Extension worker use of news articles, television and radio broadcasts, bulletins, circulars and pamphlets during the 1955.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 32 Document Number: B03341
Notes:
Phase II; Contains Preface, Table of Contents, and Introduction only. Summary available in Main Stacks 630.73 Un364r, Washington, D.C. : The American University, 1958. 111 p. (Master thesis, communication)
Syngenta (author) and G&S Business Communications (author)
Format:
Online document
Publication Date:
2017
Published:
United States: Public Relations Society of America
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 8 Document Number: D10303
Notes:
4 pages., Via Silver Anvil Awards., For years, males have dominated our image of agriculture. But in reality, women also hold important and diverse roles in the industry. G&S Business Communications launched a campaign for its client, Syngenta, to address this reality. As part of the campaign, Syngenta US joined the FarmHer movement as the presenting sponsor of the new television series “FarmHer on RFD-TV.” The FarmHer campaign helped nurture a relationship with this emerging group of customers, increase brand affinity among U.S. farmers and develop a stronger community among Syngenta employees to expand its diversity and inclusion initiative.
17 pages., via online journal, Calls for improved targeting of conservation resources are increasingly common. However, arguments for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of agricultural conservation programs through proactive targeting are often tempered by questions regarding political feasibility. Such questions rest on an assumption that there will be resistance to these approaches, whether from farmers, farm groups, or elected officials, yet there is little research-based evidence supporting that assumption. Analysis of data on Iowa farmers’ attitudes toward targeted conservation indicates that most farmers support targeted approaches. Specific factors associated with endorsement of targeted approaches include awareness of agriculture's environmental impacts, belief that farmers should address water quality problems, having experienced significant soil erosion, belief that extreme weather will become more common, participation in the Conservation Reserve Program, and belief that farmers who have natural resource issues are less likely to seek conservation assistance. Concerns about government intrusion were negative predictors of support for targeted approaches.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 168 Document Number: D08529
Notes:
Online via Agri Marketing Weekly. 1 page, Includes link to a letter (3 pages) to members of the U.S. House of Representatives,'"Support of legislative action to provide meaningful reform of checkoff program." Letter includes the list of groups (4+ pages).
Keyser, Patrick (author), Schexnayder, Susan (author), Willcox, Adam (author), Bates, Gary (author), Boyer, Christopher N. (author), and Center for Native Grasslands Management
Human Dimensions Research Lab
University of Tennessee
Format:
Online journal article
Publication Date:
2019-12-12
Published:
United States: Extension Journal, Inc.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 124 Document Number: D11232
10 pages, via online journal, Adoption of native warm-season grasses (NWSGs) in the tall fescue belt is limited despite studies documenting the potential contribution of these forages to profitable beef production. On the basis of two surveys conducted in Tennessee, a survey of beef producers and a survey of agricultural professionals, we evaluated perceptions of NWSG forages and how those perceptions could influence their adoption. Although agricultural professionals were more familiar with NWSGs than producers, both populations had limited knowledge regarding these forages, indicating that additional Extension education is needed. Our results provide useful guidance for developing NWSG forage educational programs for producers and agricultural professionals.
Meyers, Courtney (author), Shaw, Kelsey (author), Irlbeck, Erica (author), Doerfert, David (author), Abrams, Katie (author), and Morgan, Chris (author)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2015
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 153 Document Number: D06851
17pgs, In this article, we evaluate the rate of return to government efforts to promote broadband. Specifically, we estimate the impact of USDA's broadband loan and grant programs on the average payroll per worker using zip code level data from the Zip Code Business Patterns for the period from 1997 to 2007. Our results indicate that two of the smaller broadband programs (the Pilot loan program and the broadband grants program) likely had no effect on local payroll per workers. On the other hand, the largest program in terms of funding and coverage (the current broadband loan program) likely had a positive impact. Our estimate implies that a $1 per capita increase in a particular zip code's one-time receipt of the current program broadband loan results in a $0.92 increase in payroll per worker annually. Our calculated point estimates of the benefit: cost ratios for this broadband program range from 1.98 to 2.99, depending on assumptions about the time frame over which benefits accrue. However, the confidence intervals are wide enough to include the possibility that the costs outweigh the benefits.
USA: Office of Governmental and Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 49 Document Number: D10721
Notes:
8 pages., Claude W. Gifford Collection. Beyond his materials in the ACDC collection, the Claude W. Gifford Papers, 1919-2004, are deposited in the University of Illinois Archives. Serial Number 8/3/81. Locate finding aid at https://archives.library.illinois.edu/archon/, Describes 25 guidelines from a project to improve the effectiveness of USDA charts.
Gifford, Claude W. (author / Director, Office of Information, U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Format:
Speech
Publication Date:
1971-06-22
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 59 Document Number: D10723
Notes:
9 pages., Claude W. Gifford Collection. Beyond his materials in the ACDC collection, the Claude W. Gifford Papers, 1919-2004, are deposited in the University of Illinois Archives. Serial Number 8/3/81. Locate finding aid at https://archives.library.illinois.edu/archon/, In his new position, author describes his perspectives about "who we work for," with what basic purpose, using what guidelines, and by what means.
Retrieved online via LexisNexis Academic, 2 pages., Obituary of former director, Division of Information Programs, Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington,D.C. Helped form the Association of Agricultural College Editors (ACE).
Howard, Joseph H. (author / Director, National Agricultural Library, USDA)
Format:
summary report
Publication Date:
1987-02
Published:
USA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 69 Document Number: D10771
Notes:
See this report in Document C02958. Claude W. Gifford Collection. Beyond his materials in the ACDC collection, the Claude W. Gifford Papers, 1919-2004, are deposited in the University of Illinois Archives. Serial Number 8/3/81. Locate finding aid at https://archives.library.illinois.edu/archon/, Page46 in Biotechnology: the challenge - proceedings of the USDA Biotechnology Challenge Forum, Washington, D.C., February 5-6, 1987. 56 pages.
Heimerl, James R. (author / Vice President, National Pork Producers Council)
Format:
Testimony
Publication Date:
2016-04-28
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 114 Document Number: D11027
Notes:
Comments in the February 29, 2016 Federal Register, pages 10132-10138. 2 pages., Comments on behalf of the National Pork Producers Council championing the proposed revisions providing market participants with more specific information about the buyer and seller interactions and better representing the market in which producers function. "Overall, these changes represent a positive step forward in allowing information to flow throughout the marketplace and among participants."
29 pages., via online journal., Managers’ emotions play a significant role in natural resource decision-making processes relative to conflict. Although conflict and emotion are present in many aspects of most resource managers’
careers, the role of the primary decision maker’s emotions in natural
resources decision-making processes is neither well understood, nor well
documented. The ideas presented in this article derive from a literature
review and an independent four-year qualitative study of the USDA
Forest Service. The major finding of the study was that natural resources managers’ emotions do indeed have an influence on their decisionmaking processes and in conflict situations. Furthermore, communication is a component of decision making; conflict is a component of decision
making; and communication is a component of conflict. The authors review the literature in neuroscience and psychology on emotion and conflict. We explain how this information is important to any decision making process, and then relate emotions and decision making to conflict at the USDA FS. We offer insights and suggestions as to how managers
Page 77 in Extension Circular 532, Review of Extension Research, January through December 1959, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. Summary of research report by the Information Division, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 1959. 46 pages.
7 pages., Article 26, Via online journal., As global problems have become ever more complex, the production and organization of knowledge in society is increasingly based on the sharing, integration and collaboration of diverse experiences. For instance, global ‘grand challenges’, such as world hunger, poverty, climate change, and sustainability often require an interdisciplinary (ID) approach, in which integrating the insights of different disciplines provides a more comprehensive solution than can be offered by any given discipline. Universities or higher educational institutions face increasing pressures to engage in such interdisciplinary collaboration. This interdisciplinarity, however, raises particular organizational challenges to departments in higher educational institutions. In particular, while departments have been traditionally organized around a disciplinary core, interdisciplinarity has placed increasing pressures on departments, such as agricultural economics, to integrate insights from disciplines that do not advance a department’s disciplinary core. Few ID researchers have addressed the issue of how this internal conflict can be resolved in a departmental setting. Resolving this internal conflict is important to developing a greater interdisciplinarity among the disciplines of departmental units where a greater variety of disciplinary insights can be drawn upon to solve complex social problems. Here, we call for a unique organizational structure that can resolve this internal conflict. In using agricultural economics departments as a case study, we appeal to a concept of a “gatekeeper” whose role is to institute “loosely coupled” connections that can reconcile a department’s internal conflicts. This “gatekeeper” can advance the “normal science” of a department’s core and peripheral disciplines, while at the same time support a ‘common ground’ that appeals to these disciplines’ common interests. A key conclusion is that “gatekeepers” can sustain the integration of disciplinary insights necessary for the advancement of interdisciplinarity in higher educational institutions.
Telg, Ricky W. (author), Lundy, Lisa (author), Wandersee, Cassie (author), Mukhtar, Saqib (author), Smith, David (author), Stokes, Phillip (author), and University of Florida
Kansas State University
Texas A&M University
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2018
Published:
United States: New Prairie Press
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 1 Document Number: D10163
14 pages; Article 5, via online journal article, The Cattle and Climate Conversations Workshop for Cooperative Extension and Natural Resources Conservation Service, the last activity funded through a multi-regional United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) grant, took place in October 2016 in Denver, Colorado, for Extension and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) representatives in the Southwest and Mountain West who work extensively with cattle producers. The purpose of this study was to identify how Extension agents and NRCS personnel in this workshop viewed the issue of “trust,” as it relates to communicating the topic of climate change to cattle producers. Three focus groups, comprised of 29 attendees of the workshop, were conducted simultaneously at the end of the conference. Specific themes about trust included the politically charged nature of climate change, climate change data manipulation, negativity of media surrounding climate change, weathercasters getting predictions wrong, agriculture getting a “black eye” with the public, and participants’ relationships with cattle producers. Findings indicate varying levels of distrust, related to sources of information and influence on the topic of climate change, greatly impact how and whether Extension Service and NRCS employees actually talk “climate change” to cattle producers. Based on the study’s findings, it is recommended that for Extension and NRCS employees to talk about controversial issues, like climate change, it is important to create relationships with clients. In addition, communication and education professionals working with cattle producers should avoid politicizing the topic of climate change if they want climate-related programs to be accepted.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 197 Document Number: D09549
Notes:
Hal R. Taylor Collection, Proceedings of the 1951 convention of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, Des Moines, Iowa., Excerpts from this report.
14pgs, The adoption of soil conservation practices by farmers offers the potential to greatly improve soil health and water quality at large geographic scales. In considering the potential benefits of soil conservation practices to improve ecological outcomes on farms, it is important to ascertain where farmers get their information about soil conservation and what type of information they are exposed to and by whom. One primary way that farmers learn about soil conservation practices is via agricultural trade publications (ATPs). We conducted a content analysis using a computational text analysis method to analyze all the online soil conservation coverage from four influential ATPs in Wisconsin. We focused on 10 different soil conservation practices and found that the most frequently covered soil conservation practices were tillage, manure, and grazing. Additionally, we analyzed the thematic categories for how each soil conservation practice was covered in terms of agricultural, environmental and economic benefits. Generally, articles tended to mention environmental and economic benefits more than agricultural benefits across all soil conservation practices. We also unpacked the subcategories of environmental benefits using cover crops practice as an example to demonstrate how it was covered in terms of subcategories such as biodiversity, sustainability, climate change, water quality, and soil health. Our analysis also looked at how agricultural technology was featured in the stories about soil conservation and found that this category was regularly mentioned for each practice. Finally, we examined the message sources for stories on soil conservation and found that extension and the federal government were the most the frequently cited entities. We also discussed how this form of computational content analysis can provide longitudinal insights about trends in a particular soil conservation practice like cover crops, which showed a clear upward trend in coverage in ATPs for the time period studied. These nuanced content analyses provide insights into what types of thematic categories are featured about soil conservation practices covered in ATPs in Wisconsin. Advocates of soil conservation practices can use our results to determine if some practices could benefit from more attention in ATPs as well as which benefits and themes have received more media coverage. Additionally, stakeholders from entities that serve as different message sources can determine how their organizations are doing as the spokespeople for the soil conservation practices being advocated.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 69 Document Number: D10732
Notes:
Claude W. Gifford Collection. Beyond his materials in the ACDC collection, the Claude W. Gifford Papers, 1919-2004, are deposited in the University of Illinois Archives. Serial Number 8/3/81. Locate finding aid at https://archives.library.illinois.edu/archon/, Item 42 located in ACDC Document D10726, Directory of written summaries of 80 items deposited in the Claude W. Gifford Papers, University of Illinois Archives. 4 pages., Provides a review of efforts to improve public understanding of agriculture, nationally. Author cites the 1950 book by Ed Lipscomb, Grassroots public relations for agriculture, formation of the Agricultural Relations Council, and Dan Murphy's book, Improving agriculture's reputation. Describes USDA efforts, including the PACER research project and staffing enhancements for that goal.
Gifford, Claude W. (author / Director, Office of Communication, U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Format:
Report
Publication Date:
Circa 1975
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 49 Document Number: D10718
Notes:
Claude W. Gifford Collection. Beyond his materials in the ACDC collection, the Claude W. Gifford Papers, 1919-2004 are deposited in the University of Illinois Archives. Serial Number 8/3/81. Locate finding aid at https://archives.library.illinois.edu/archon/, 3 pages., Detailed listing of more than 40 information services provided by the Office of Communication for varied audiences, including policy makers, producers, consumers, and others. Includes counts and audience sizes of many media services, from daily phone calls to the annual Yearbook of Agriculture. Specific year(s) involved are not identified.
Wu, Helen W. (author), Backman, Desiree (author), Kizer, Kenneth W. (author), and Institute for Population Health Improvement, UC Davis Health System, Sacramento, CA, United States
California Department of Health Care Services, Institute for Population Health Improvement, UC Davis Health System, Sacramento, CA, United States
UC Davis School of Medicine, Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, Sacramento, CA, United States
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2017
Published:
USA: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Inc
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D08139
USA: Office of Governmental and Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 73 Document Number: D10785
Notes:
Claude W. Gifford Collection. Beyond his materials in the ACDC collection, the Claude W. Gifford Papers, 1919-2004, are deposited in the University of Illinois Archives. Serial Number 8/3/81. Locate finding aid at https://archives.library.illinois.edu/archon/, Report of a special periodicals task force. 50 pages., Contains task force analyses and recommendations on each of the 26 periodicals reviewed. In each case, the task force listed the purpose, audience, some particulars about the production and distribution of the periodical, an analysis of it from the viewpoint of the task force, and recommendations.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 34 Document Number: D10684
Notes:
Claude W. Gifford Collection, Claude W. Gifford Collection. 18 pages., Involves a proposal to establish a national Rural-Urban Communications Center as part of the Office of Information, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. Includes goals, guidelines, programs of activity and budgets for 1972-73 and 1973-74, plans of action, and internal structure and staffing.
11 pages., Via online journal article., As climate change is expected to significantly affect agricultural systems globally, agricultural farm advisors have been increasingly recognized as an important resource in helping farmers address these challenges. While there have been many studies exploring the climate change belief and risk perceptions as well as behaviors of both farmers and agricultural farm advisors, there are very few studies that have explored how these perceptions relate to actual climate impacts in agriculture. Here we couple survey data from United States Department of Agriculture farm service employees (n = 6, 514) with historical crop loss data across the United States to explore the relationship of actual climate-related crop losses on farm to farm advisor perceptions of climate change and future farmer needs. Using structural equation modelling we find that among farm advisors that work directly with farms on disaster and crop loss issues, there is a significant positive relationship between crop loss and perceived weather variability changes, while across all farm advisors crop loss is associated with reduced likelihood to believe in anthropogenic climate change. Further, we find that weather variability perceptions are the most consistently and highly correlated with farm advisors' perceptions about the need for farm adaptation and future farmer needs. These results suggest that seeing crop loss may not lead to climate change belief, but may drive weather variability perceptions, which in turn affect farm adaptation perceptions. This lends further evidence to the debate over terminology in climate change communication and outreach, suggesting that weather variability may be the most salient among agricultural advisors.
Gifford, Claude W. (author / Director, Office of Communication, U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Format:
policy statement
Publication Date:
1974-01-01
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 67 Document Number: D10745
Notes:
Claude W. Gifford Collection. Beyond his materials in the ACDC collection, the Claude W. Gifford Papers, 1919-2004, are deposited in the University of Illinois Archives. Serial Number 8/3/81. Locate finding aid at https://archives.library.illinois.edu/archon/, Claude W. Gifford Collection. 4 pages., Considerations involved in separating the program information function of USDA from the policy information function. They focused, for example, on efforts proposed by the American Agricultural Editors' Association to "be objective in playing an educational role rather than a promotional role in explaining farm programs, referendums and related policy matters."
