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12. Farmer knowledge and perception of production constraints in Northwest Cambodia
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Montgomery, Stephanie C. (author), Martin, Robert J. (author), Guppy, Chris (author), Wright, Graeme C. (author), Tighe, Matthew K. (author), and Agronomy and Soil Science, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2017-11
- Published:
- Australia: Science Direct
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 106 Document Number: D10937
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Rural Studies
- Journal Title Details:
- 56(2017) : 12-21
- Notes:
- 9 pages, via online journal, Upland farming in Northwest Cambodia has developed rapidly over the last 20 years, with limitations to the plough based system now apparent, including soil degradation and reductions in yield and profitability. A survey was conducted in order to prioritise the main constraints to production, to aid in future research planning, and to identify potential beneficial modifications to the current system. Three hundred and ninety one farmers were interviewed regarding their current farming system constraints, knowledge of conservation agriculture and their future plans in the Districts of Samlout in Battambang Province and Sala Krau in Pailin Province. Perceived major problems in the farming system were extreme climate events such as droughts and heavy rain, declining crop yields, and cash flow shortages, particularly in the pre-monsoon period. This is a plough based farming system, yet 66% of farmers had heard of conservation agriculture, and 59% wanted to learn more about conservation agriculture practices. Two thirds of farmers were interested in how to grow crops in the post-monsoon dry season on residual soil moisture. The survey highlighted opportunities for farmer education and adoption of farming system modifications to improve productivity and sustainability of the farming system in Northwest Cambodia, and assist with climate change adaptation.
13. The extent that certain dairy farmer attitudes and behaviors are associated with farm business profitability
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- O'Leary, N.W. (author), Bennett, R.M. (author), Tranter, R.B. (author), and Jones, P.J. (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2018-12
- Published:
- Great Britain: Science Direct
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D10187
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Dairy Science
- Journal Title Details:
- 101(12): 1-18
- Notes:
- pgs. 11275-11284, Via online journal, The way in which farm managers' attitudes, personality, behavior, values, and sociodemographic characteristics influence farm business performance is, at best, only partially understood. The study reported here expands on this understanding by analyzing the attitudes and personal attributes of 80 dairy farmers in Great Britain in relation to the profitability over 3 yr of their farm businesses. Business goals, temperament, purchasing behavior, and having a growth mindset toward the business were found to be associated with profitability. A linear regression model consisting of 5 variables related to the above was presented that predicts 34% of the observed variation in profitability. Each of these variables were questions related to the participants' personal attitudes or beliefs. Other assessed variables, such as specific husbandry behaviors or practices, or management practices and sociodemographic characteristics, did not warrant inclusion in the final model. These results uniquely contribute to understanding how the attitudes, personality, behaviors, and attributes of dairy farmers are associated with, and thus likely to influence, the profitability of their farm businesses.
14. Improving the viability of new farmers' operations through the use of profit teams
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Rangarajan, Anusuya (author), McCarthy, Kathleen (author), and Welch, Daniel (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2019-10
- Published:
- United States: Extension Journal, Inc.
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 203 Document Number: D12322
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- v. 57,n. 5
- Notes:
- 6 pages, Profit teams comprise multiple consultants engaged to support farmer decision making by holistically analyzing farm challenges. We tested the idea of using profit teams to help advanced beginning farmers, those who are beyond start-up but have been in business less than 10 years, address constraints to growing their businesses. These new entrepreneurs often have entered agriculture without a family farming history or a connection to Extension. We describe the processes of selecting farmers and administering teams, and we highlight significant improvements in quality of life, production, and profitability reported by 35 farmers. Our lessons learned may guide other educators and funders in developing profit teams for their beginning farmer clients.
15. Using educational theory and research to refine agricultural extension: affordances and barriers for farmers’ learning and practice change
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Sewell, A.M. (author), Hartnett, M.K. (author), Gray, D.I. (author), Blair, H.T. (author), Kemp, P.D. (author), Kenyon, P.R. (author), Morris, S.T. (author), Wood, B.A. (author), and Massey University
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2017-04-24
- Published:
- New Zealand: Taylor & Francis
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 109 Document Number: D10968
- Journal Title:
- The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- 23(4) : 313-333
- Notes:
- 20 pages, via online journal, Purpose: To examine the factors that support and hinder farmers’ learning and to investigate the impact of an innovative learning program on farmers’ practice change. Design/methodology/approach: Individual interviews and focus group discussions were held with 24 farmers over 20 months. Observations were made of these farmers as they participated with eight agricultural and social scientists in a range of innovative experiences to learn about chicory and plantain establishment and management. These learning experiences were designed around evidence-informed educational pedagogies. Data sets were analyzed using NVivo to determine common themes of affordances and barriers to learning and actual practice changes. Findings: The affordances for learning and practice change include belonging to a learning community, enhancing self-efficacy, engaging with scientists, seeing relative advantage, reinforcing and validating learning, supporting system’s integration and developing an identity as learners. Barriers to learning and practice change include issues of: trialability, complexity, compatibility and risk. Practical implications: The importance of basing new models of extension around evidence-informed pedagogies known through educational research to promote learning and practice change. Theoretical implications: Sociocultural theory and self-efficacy theories of learning are critical to the success of effective agricultural extension programs. Originality: To date, little empirical research about the affordances and barriers for pastoral farmers’ learning has been based on contemporary educational research.
16. How to ensure online, distribution, delivery services are profitable
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Sowder, Amy (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2021-02-10
- Published:
- USA
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 202 Document Number: D12111
- Journal Title:
- Packer
- Notes:
- Online from publisher. 4 pages., "There are several ways to ensure profitability when considering whether to add distribution or delivery services to your company. Those same methods also can help you evaluate whether the services you already offer are making you money."
17. Slideslow: How produce suppliers and merchandisers can improve store sales
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Sowder, Amy (author)
- Format:
- Online article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-02-11
- Published:
- USA: The Packer
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 207 Document Number: D12997
- Notes:
- 14 pages
18. The boundary of smallholder producers’ cooperatives: A conceptual and empirical analysis
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Tadesse, Getaw (author), Abate, Gashaw T. (author), and Ergano, Kebebe (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2018-11-08
- Published:
- United States: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D12380
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Economics
- Journal Title Details:
- Vol.70, Iss. 2
- Notes:
- 21 pages, In this study we explain the concepts, determinants and imperatives of boundary in smallholder producers’ cooperatives both conceptually and empirically. The conceptual framework indicates the importance of the type of goods (being a club good or not) and range of activities that a cooperative provides to its members in defining a competitive boundary. Using unique organisational and market level data from Ethiopia, we then test empirically whether the observed (weak) performance of producers’ cooperatives in Africa is explained by their organisational boundary – the type and range of goods or services they provide to members. The empirical results confirm that the competitiveness of producers’ cooperatives is significantly correlated with the type and number of services – i.e. cooperatives that provide club goods and a limited range of services are found to be more competitive. The results also suggest that a considerable number of cooperatives in Ethiopia engage in markets where they do not have competitive advantage. Overall, we demonstrate the importance of properly defining a viable boundary – proper selection of services (or markets) and limiting the range of services – for improving the competitiveness of membership-based producer cooperatives in Africa.
19. Not Glamorous, but Needed: Teaching Energy Basics to Improve Farm Profitability
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Zoller, Chris (author) and Romich, Eric (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2020-08-01
- Published:
- United States: Extension Journal, Inc.
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 203 Document Number: D12291
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- Vol. 58, Num. 4
- Notes:
- 5 pages, Despite the increase in energy consumption, rising energy costs, and the overall financial strain in the agriculture sector, the Extension system has allocated limited resources to energy education in agriculture. Many energy programs focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies whereas little attention is paid to developing an understanding of how farmers are billed for electricity, when electricity is used, and why. The first step in developing evidence-based solutions to improve farm profitability is clearly defining the problems that need to be solved. If not Extension, who will take on the responsibility of providing this critical education?