28pgs, Technological advancement is seen as one way of sustainably intensifying agriculture. Scholars argue that innovation needs to be responsible, but it is difficult to anticipate the consequences of the ‘fourth agricultural revolution’ without a clear sense of which technologies are included and excluded. The major aims of this article were to investigate which technologies are being associated with the fourth agricultural revolution, as well as to understand how this revolution is being perceived, whether positive or negative consequences are given equal attention, and what type of impacts are anticipated. To this end, we undertook a content analysis of UK media and policy documents alongside interviews of farmers and advisers. We found that the fourth agricultural revolution is associated with emergent, game-changing technologies, at least in media and policy documents. In these sources, the benefits to productivity and the environment were prioritised with less attention to social consequences, but impacts were overwhelmingly presented positively. Farmers and advisers experienced many benefits of technologies and some predicted higher-tech futures. It was clear, however, that technologies create a number of negative consequences. We reflect on these findings and provide advice to policy-makers about how to interrogate the benefits, opportunities, and risks afforded by agricultural technologies.
Tyler, H.S. (author / Purdue University, Agricultural Information Department) and Purdue University, Agricultural Information Department
Format:
Conference paper
Publication Date:
1980
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 58 Document Number: C01640
Notes:
Hanne; See also C00717 for a summary, Mimeographed, 1980. 4 p. Report presented to Annual meeting of Agricultural communicators in Education; 1980 July 16; University of California, Berkeley, CA
The Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer improved in April to a reading of 121, which was 8 points higher than a month earlier. Despite this month’s increase, the ag sentiment index remains 32% lower than its April 2021 reading. This month’s modest rise in the barometer was attributable to an improvement in ag producers’ perspective on their current situation as well as what they expect for the future. The Index of Current Conditions rose 7 points to a reading of 120 while the Index of Future Expectations rose 9 points to an index value of 122. Similar to the barometer, both the current conditions and future expectations indices remain well below year ago levels. Ongoing strength in commodity prices appeared to be responsible for the modest sentiment improvement, although producers’ concerns about both rising input costs and their difficulties in procuring inputs continues to hold back sentiment. The Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer sentiment index is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. This month’s survey was conducted from April 18-22, 2022.
de Fabregues, B. Peyre (author / Institut d'Elevage et de Medicine veterinaire des Pays tropicaux)
Format:
Conference paper
Language:
French
Publication Date:
1981
Published:
France
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 95 Document Number: C07410
Notes:
INTERPAKS, Mimeographed, 1981. Paper presented at Workshop on Linkages between Agricultural Research and Farmers in Developing Countries, Paris, France, May 13-14, 1981. 6 p., Describes a project aimed at integrating pastoral societies into a modern production economy. The method used was aimed at constant information and consultation with the breeders concerned. An interdisciplinary team of investigators/advisors visited the area concerned. Continuous participation of breeders was sought, taking into account their views and concerns. Special broadcasts on the national radio were used to inform breeders about modernization projects in the pastoral area.
12 pages, eOrganic, the Organic Agriculture Community of eXtension, has conducted webinars on organic farming research for over a decade. I examined questions asked by farmers and university researchers or educators during 52 webinars presented 2015–2017. A higher proportion of questions asked by farmers than questions asked by researchers/educators were about risks, benefits, and problem solving, and the farmers' questions contained many innovative ideas about production. A higher proportion of researcher/educator questions than farmer questions related to details of research studies, though farmers also posed questions about research methods. This article contains suggestions about tailoring research presentations to farmer audiences and confirms the mutual benefits of collaborations between farmers and researchers.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 49 Document Number: C00177
Notes:
451-457, Harold Swanson Collection, Mimeographed, 1983. 5 p. Paper presented at the 1983 National Agricultural Communicators in Education (ACE) Meeting; 1983 July 17-21; Madison, WI
