Online via University of Illinois Online Catalog., This study among beef producers analyzed the what, why and how of beef producers' learning to improve land condition. Findings suggested the value of organized collective learning, adversity, and active experimentation with natural resource skills and techniques can facilitate critical reflection of practice, questioning of the self, others and cultural norms and an enhanced sense of environmental responsibility.
Online via the University of Illinois Online Catalog, using the Article search term, "demonstrations", This study involved determining preferences of researchers and producers regarding their preferences for providing and gathering information. Findings revealed and described differences in preference. Authors identified on-farm demonstrations as particularly important for technologies that involve major transitions in farming methods.
19 pages, The USDA has identified coexistence, or producers growing food in a variety of ways (conventionally, organic, etc.) in a harmonious manner as a critical challenge and high priority. Despite this call for coexistence and assurance of mutual success, agricultural sectors often have conflicts. Both sides of the niche and mainstream rift tend to pick and choose radical examples of problematic practices to portray the opposition. Producers, more so than most other occupations, have a deeply entrenched occupational identity. Many studies focused on the need for relationships between agricultural producers and the public. No work has been found to understand how producers from different sectors of agriculture view one another. This study sought to understand producers' identities and the relationships producers have with one another. Results indicate the occupation of farming, family ties, connection and duty to the land, hard work and pride defines producers' identities. When defining a "good farmer," producers cited innovation and efficiency, farm succession, passion and joy, and profits as markers of success. The relationships between producers varied. Overall, producers respected other producers enough to make their own choices concerning production. Social media was often mentioned when producers talked about how they communicate with one another.
