17 pages, This article draws upon research exploring a project that combines edutainment and participatory communication strategies as an approach to social change in Malawi. Throughout the research, I take a critical stance that seeks to uplift voices of an audience attending a radio listening club (RLC) and therefore utilize participatory methods to co-create the body of knowledge with study participants. In this article, I query RLC audience’s thoughts of the project’s relevance and influence in their daily lives. Oriented by Hall’s concepts of encoding and decoding, I analyse my data focusing on the dynamics between the objectives of the producers and the lived reality of the participants. Findings reveal that audience’s motivation for continued attendance of the RLC is different to that intended in the encoding process; rather audiences negotiate the relevance of messages to their own needs, those of their children and utilize the space to extend their social capital.
Installing fiber-optic internet in sparsely populated places like western Kansas is extremely expensive, even with government subsidies. But some smaller, local broadband providers are finding ways to make it work where the big national companies have not.
Online from the publisher, Findings of a recent national telephone survey by the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) indicated that most farmer respondents (71 percent) are listening to radio, and during an average of 4.7 days a week. The findings indicated that 65 percent listen to AM radio, 53 percent to FM radio, and less than 20 percent to satellite radio. Most radio listening takes place while driving or operating farm equipment, 82 percent while driving a pickup and 64 percent while operating farm equipment.
United States: Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, Virginia.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12519
Notes:
4 pages., Sasakawa Africa Association shares their approach to strengthening the resilience of food systems in Africa through innovative approaches using information and communication technologies.
he Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) was established in 1986 by Ryoichi Sasakawa, the first chairman of the Nippon Foundation; Dr. Norman Borlaug, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and father of the Green Revolution; and former US President, Jimmy Carter; in response to the famine in the Horn of Africa in the 1980s.
Since then, SAA has strengthened agricultural extension services in 16 countries in Africa. Currently, we have offices in Ethiopia, Mali, Nigeria and Uganda, where we focus on field activities and human resource development at universities and other educational institutions. We also implement human resource development projects in Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania.
Online from publication. 1 page., Radio Station KRVN, Lexington, Nebraska - "The rural voice of Nebraska" - observed its 70th anniversary on February 1 with a special all-day celebration that featured fond memories shared by listeners and guest appearances from former KRVN legends.
USA: National Association of Farm Broadcasting, Platte City, Missouri.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 202 Document Number: D12078
Notes:
2 pgs., Online from the publisher. 2 pages., Obituary involving a former farm broadcaster who served as NAFB president in 1984 and as NAFB Historian for nine years.
9 pages, This study investigates how communication channels to exchange agricultural information were chosen. Specifically, it identifies the communication channels used by farmers in Tanzania and determines the factors influencing the choice of communication channels for exchanging agricultural information. The study employs a meta-analysis review methodology in identifying, evaluating and interpreting studies relevant to the topic of interest. The results indicate that radio, mobile phones, television, fellow farmers, agricultural extension agents and newspapers were the commonly used communication channels for transferring agricultural information. Moreover, the channels’ influence, availability, affordability, communication network coverage, and the resources and facilities needed to use a particular communication channel were found to influence the choice of channels. It is concluded that understanding the audience, the characteristics surrounding messages and choosing appropriate communication channels are important for enhancing access to agricultural information. It is recommended that agricultural information providers should understand the factors surrounding communication channels before disseminating agricultural information
Online from publication. 3 pages., Article features experiences and perspectives of crime novel writer Jeff Gould, a former reporter for the Linder Farm Network in Minnesota.
21 pgs., CTs (Communications technologies) have revolutionized agricultural information services at every level in the agricultural sector, thus impacting rural development and catalysing poverty alleviation strategies. This has largely been the case with small-scale farmers in rural areas in developing countries where mobile technologies have penetrated more than most other ICT tools. However, in some of the farming environments, mobile phone use is largely driven by agricultural extension workers. This paper seeks to examine the way mobile phones are used for information access in situations where agricultural extension workers are a critical intermediary in the agricultural information services. Interviews were conducted with 10 randomly selected farmers who were part of the Dzindi irrigation scheme. The findings were that from the variety of information available to the farmers the most important source was the extension officer. The extension officer and the radio were indicated to be the most reliable independent sources of information. The other sources, such as the radio, family members, and friends, suppliers of chemicals, books and magazines, were only considered reliable if the information could be verified or vouched for by the extension officer. Increasing the information handling skills of extension officers, training of farmers to use smart features of their phones and promoting the usual face-to-face communication use of conventional methods, which is what usually gives rise to the mediation of mobile phones, were recommended.
Perdue, Sonny (author / Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Format:
Proclamation
Publication Date:
2020-12
Published:
USA: U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 202 Document Number: D12034
Notes:
Via online. 1 page., A proclamation by USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue honoring agricultural broadcaster Orion Samuelson at the occasion of his retirement after a 60-year career at WGN Radio applying journalistic integrity, persistence, and support for American farmers.
Online from publication. 2 pages., Features agricultural broadcaster Gale Cunningham, president-elect of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB), and his wife Beth at the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 202 Document Number: D11964
Notes:
Online via AgriMarketing Weekly. 3 pages., Report of Orion Samuelson's decision to retire December 31 from WGN, Chicago, Illinois, with some 60 years of farm reporting experience and leadership.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 202 Document Number: D11967
Notes:
Online via AgriMarketing Weekly. 2 pages., Announcement of the passing of NAFB Hall of Fame farm broadcaster Evan Slack, with highlights of his career, including service as president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting.
UI Library subscription., Update on agricultural/rural broadcasting in the U.S., including recent survey results about listenership and about the News Service of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting.
11 pages., In 2016, a study was conducted in Tanzania to assess the impact of radio and SMS in scaling-up smallholder participation in legume-based sustainable agricultural intensification (SAI) practices and technologies. The study aimed to answer the following research questions: (i) does participation in the campaign enhance farmers’ knowledge of legume-based sustainable agricultural intensification practices and technologies? (ii) what is the impact of the campaign on the adoption of legume-based sustainable agricultural intensification practices and technologies?; (iii) does exposure to multiple ICT-enabled channels result in larger gains (in terms of knowledge and adoption) than exposure to only one channel? (iv) is it more cost-effective to use radio or SMS alone or use them in combination? The results show that both awareness and adoption are boosted if SMS supports radio campaigns. However, radio alone is the most cost-effective approach. Each dollar spent on the radio campaign results in 2.1 farmers that have adopted at least one new practice, compared with 0.5 farmers for SMS and 0.4 farmers for radio and SMS combined. Other factors were also important in facilitating uptake of legume-based SAI practices, such as gender, age, education and land size, but were not statistically significant when rated against the communication channels used.
National Association of Farm Broadcasting (author)
Format:
Directory
Publication Date:
2020
Published:
USA: National Association of Farm Broadcasting, Platte City, Missouri.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 202 Document Number: D12128
Notes:
Printed directory via Jim Evans subscription. 100 pages., Annual membership directory. Contents include Broadcast Council of NAFB, Allied Industry Council, Non-Commercial Broadcast Council, Management and Sales Council, National Industry Sales Rep Firms, Students, Past Presidents, NAFB Hall of Farm, Farm Broadcaster of the Year, Emeritus, Honorary, and other sections.
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.
2 pages., Via online from publisher., Farm broadcaster and general manager describes information challenges and how he is adjusting farm reporting activities during restrictions caused by the current COVID-19 pandemic.
3 pages., Describes how he and his associates at Radio Oklahoma Network are adjusting their farm reporting activities during restrictions caused by the current COVID-19 pandemic.
3 pages., Online from publisher., Farm broadcaster describes how he and his associate are adjusting farm reporting activities during restrictions caused by the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Print copy from publisher by subscription. 154 pages., Annual directory and guide including sections: companies, marketing services, agencies, agricultural publications, broadcast, e-business associations, telephone directory, National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) directory, and Canadian Agri-Marketing Association (CAMA) directory.
3 pages., Online via publisher., Describes how she and her associates are adjusting their farm reporting activities to report remotely during restrictions caused by the current COVID-19 pandemic. Cites challenges of reporting on economic and social impacts with which farm families are dealing.
Author emphasizes the value of farm broadcasters in sharing information about the numerous initiatives supported by the agricultural organizations such as the American Soybean Association.
USA: National Association of Farm Broadcasting, Platte City, Missouri
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 166 Document Number: D11678
Notes:
2 pages., Online from publisher., Brief summary of responses to a non-probability email survey among U.S. farmers and ranchers regarding COVID-19 and its ramifications on their livelihoods and farm-radio listening habits. Findings indicated that respondents "are listening to farm radio during the pandemic for timely, accurate news. Responses averaged 8.7-8.8 (scale of 1 [poor] to 10 [excellent] in terms of timeliness, accuracy and credibility of farm broadcaster delivering farm news, weather, markets and ag information.
President of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting provides a current focus on agricultural and rural broadcasting in support of American agriculture.
National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) staff summarizes findings of 2019 listenership research and unique capabilities of audio media in providing farmers with timely, "hands free" information.
Online via UI Library Catalog search. 10 pages., Findings of a survey among a sample of 100 farmers in District Sargodha revealed 99% used agricultural radio/TV/FM, 96% used mobile phones, 66% used magazines/newspapers/periodicals, and 61% used social media. Respondents placed highest value on enhancing their productivity.
4 pages., Posted online February 12, 2020., Describes career and retirement plans of Ken Root, veteran agricultural broadcaster and former executive director of NAFB.
2 pages., Online from publisher., Describes how he and his associates are adjusting their farm reporting activities during restrictions and impacts of the current COVID-19 pandemic.
3 pages., Farm broadcaster describes how she and her associates at Brownfield Ag News are adjusting their farm reporting activities during restrictions caused by the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Summarizes findings of a 2019 survey among U.S. farmers regarding their daily information sources for farming, agricultural news, weather and markets. "Even as new information sources appear and some farmers partake in them, traditional farm-news sources like radio continue to show broad-based strength."
16 pages., via online journal., The study assessed the use of ICTs among public and private extension officers in Lesotho. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 86 public and 19 private extension officers. Data collected were analysed, using percentages, mean, and standard deviation, multiple regressions and t-test. Extension officers use ICT tools to obtain information on new technology (79.1%), preservation of farm produce (79.1%); time of planting crops (75.6%), call attention of extension officers (75.6%) and cultural practices (75.6%). Serious constraints to the use of ICTs, as perceived by extension officers were: high cost of ICT (83.7%); poor basic infrastructure (79.1%); non-availability of technical personnel (72.1%), failure of service (73.7%) and non-availability of genuine parts. There is a strong relationship between access to information, residing within place of work, constraints, age awareness, type of extension and use of ICTs. There is also a significance differences in the use of ICTs between public and private extension officers. Policy makers should improve national e-readiness and make more ICT tools available and accessible to extension officers. Constraints of high cost, lack of ICT infrastructure and training of technical personnel should be dealt with.
6 pages., young farmers, Kenya (Africa, Eastern), mobile communication systems, communication networks, technology, dairy, access, Information Communication Technology (ICT) has changed the way information is created, stored, accessed and disseminated. It has the potential to enhance access and use of agricultural information by farmers in rural areas thereby improving their farming practices. The study was undertaken to assess how young farmers use ICT technologies in accessing and using dairy agricultural information in Murang’a County, Kenya. The study aimed at assessing the awareness by farmers on technologies available for use in accessing agricultural information and strategies used by farmers in accessing and using dairy agricultural information as a way of promoting dairy farming production. The results of the study revealed that 88% of the farmers agreed that they were aware of the use of technology in accessing agricultural information. 75% of the respondents used radio where television was rated second while mobile phones were rarely used. Majority at (80%) never used technologies such as computers, CD/DVD and social media to access and use dairy agricultural information. Three quarters (75%) preferred using other sources such as extension workers, friends, and relatives over technology. All the extension officers interviewed used technology to acquire and disseminate information. Radio was highly used, followed by internet/web services and social media. The study concluded that dairy farmers have limited access to modern technologies such as mobile phones in access and use of agricultural information. The Kenya National Library Services in collaboration with the Department of Livestock Production should set up exhibitions and information literacy programs for dairy farmers. Infrastructure should be improved in the rural areas of Murang’a County by setting up Cyber cafes within the subcounties and educate dairy farmers on the use of ICT technologies to access and use agricultural information.
Solanki, Surabhi (author) and Verma, Seema (author)
Format:
Conference proceedings
Publication Date:
2019-06
Published:
Elsevier
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 121 Document Number: D11119
Notes:
8 pages., Proceedings of International Conference on Sustainable Computing in Science, Technology and Management., In any country, agriculture plays important role in the prospect of economy and sustainability. As technology grow day by day so it is necessary for the farmer to know about the technology, innovations and take them into practice, so they make strong themselves in terms of economic and sustainability. In this paper discussed the intensity exposure to information and communication technology and its relationship to the characteristics of farmers at different stages of adoption use of information and communication technology for different farm practices and also know the preferences of farmers regarding the use of Information & Communication Technology (ICT). In the continuation of this process conduct the personal interview to collect personal details of farmers as well as farm information that associate them to know about the adoption of information technology. The data collected through personal interview of farmers have been classified, tabulated and analyzed to know how efficiently and effectively information and communication technology disseminate farm information to the farmer.
23 pages., via online journal., In 2015, the Philippine Supreme Court ruled against the field testing of Bt eggplant, a genetically modified crop. This decision was covered extensively in the local press, forcing scientists to defend their research. We used qualitative, inductive analysis to examine how three news outlets constructed science in their coverage of the issue. We found that science was constructed through four themes: science searched for proof, absolute consensus had to be reached, the characteristics of scientific inquiry are used to discredit scientists, and science is aware of its logical limits. These findings have implications for the public acceptance of innovations.
Rodriguez, Lulu (author) and University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences: Agricultural Communications
Illinois Public Media
Format:
Website
Publication Date:
2019-04-19
Published:
United States: Univeristy of Illinios, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 12 Document Number: D10356
Oswald, Fabian (author) and Kalsruhe Institute of Technology
Format:
Dissertation
Publication Date:
2019-04-02
Published:
Germany: Kalsruhe Institute of Technology
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 121 Document Number: D11122
Notes:
196 pages., via institutional depository., Fabin's work is based on Kilimo Media’s work. He sought to investigate how information flow through agricultural radio programs in local languages is structured and whether contemporary theories of science communication are observable in the practice of farm radio through a cross-case study approach. Fabian held qualitative interviews with local actors and group discussions with farmers in Kajiado, Marsabit and Kitui counties and three radio stations Bus radio, Radio Jangwani and Syokimau FM.
10 pages., ISSN 2241-1925, via online journal., Mass-media plays a very important role in bringing about change in the behavior of users by putting across the useful information, which leads to decision making for adoption of innovation. Among the different Mass-media channels radio and television are becoming popular for farm, home, community and entertainment programmes. This paper discusses the Usage of Mass Media Information Communication Technology among the farming community of Mandya District, Karnataka State, India.
8 pages., ISSN: 2284-7995, via online journal., The study accessed agrochemical based information usage among cocoa farmers in Nigeria with a view to determine the sustainability of information sources for an increased cocoa production in the study area. Simple random sampling was used to select 120 cocoa farmers using structured interview schedule. Results showed that farmers were in their 50s with about 12 years of formal education. Radio (mean = 2.56) ranked highest among the sources of information while about 60 percent of the respondents indicated a very high level of usage of agrochemical information in cocoa production. Results of Pearson Product Moment Correlation showed a significant relationship between farmers’ perception (r = 0.365; p≤0.01) and usage of agrochemical based information. The findings conclude that the use of mass media as the most frequently used among farmers for agrochemicals in cocoa production may be sustainable. It is therefore recommended that the use of mass media for agrochemicals usage in cocoa production should be reinforced in passing other information to cocoa farmers.
8 pages., Online via UI Catalog., Authors investigated sources of information used by inhabitants of agricultural villages and rural areas, spanning the period 2012-2018. Findings showed that "interest in new mass media-the Internet grew significantly, whereas their interests in television or radio broadcasts decreased. It has also pointed out that the trend to read daily press and specialized papers increased. Village inhabitants (not a farmer) preferred daily press and journals, whereas farmers chose specialised press."
USA: National Association of Farm Broadcasting, Platte City, Missouri.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 136 Document Number: D11411
Notes:
97 pages., 2019 membership directory of the organization, including members of current NAFB councils and historical member information. "NAFB 75 years strong."
Online via keyword search of UI Library e-Catalog., Farmer interviews revealed that various forms of agricultural journalism were significant: radio, television, cable network, print media, social media, mobile phone service, and internet websites. Use of some of these was strongly dependent on education level.
5 pages., September-November issue via online., Digitalisation is improving the agricultural extension system by providing services at the right time, and facilitating adoption of new agronomic practices, resulting in yield improvements and higher incomes for farming households.
23 pages., Authors used a baseline survey, an intervention, and an end line survey to assess farmers' knowledge of farming practices, knowledge level, and relationship between information source and knowledge gain. Interventions were provided by radio broadcasts and audio CDs. Findings suggested that '...audio media remains a vital source of information for resource-poor farmers and can greatly enhance their agricultural knowledge when audio media is used as an intervention."
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 199 Document Number: D09907
Notes:
Presentation at the Association of Communication Excellence (ACE) conference during the Agricultural Media Summit, Scottsdale, Arizona, August 4-8, 2018. 47 pages. PowerPoint slides.
USA: National Association of Farm Broadcasting, Platte City, Missouri
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 197 Document Number: D09458
Notes:
Via online. 3 pages., Article features the history,of the RFD Radio Network, a broadcast program network of the Illinois Farm Bureau, Bloomington, Illinois.
Case study of an internationally-finded campesino radio station and cultural negotiation in which local interests engage with - and transform - donor-funded content aimed at the local community.
16 pages., via online journal., The goal of this study was to evaluate a radio program as a source of agricultural information and examine the relationship between specific socioeconomic characteristics and listenership. The findings revealed that half of the farmers listen to the radio program, while older farmers are more likely to be listeners. Moreover, there are no significant differences between listeners and nonlisteners with respect to education level. More focus should be given to mountainous and less favored areas where more traditional information sources prevail. It is strongly recommended that the broadcast be sustained and improved based on farmers' suggestions and be regularly assessed.
11 pages., via online journal., This study examined farmers' utilization of the Utom Inwang agricultural program on Atlantic 104.5 FM radio station. Data on listenership, utilization and constraints to utilization of information aired on the program were obtained from 150 randomly selected farmers. Although more of the respondents (53.3%) had a low listenership status, utilization of information was high (54.7%). Constraints to utilization were lack of finance (x¯ = 1.51) and poor feedback (x¯ = 1.21). Farming experiences (r = 0.188, p ≤ 0.05) and annual income (r = 0.376, p ≤ 0.05) were significantly related to utilization of the broadcast. Utom Inwang should be sustained, while financial information and feedback mechanisms should be improved upon.
Findings prompt researchers to recommend the use of information and communications technologies with conventional approaches in conservation agriculture knowledge networks.
Presents "some of the challenges arising from the growing amounts of information available and exhausting the managements when defining the direction of future development of a company."
