Abbott, Eric A. (author), Evans, James F. (author), and Scharpe, Jennifer (author)
Format:
Paper
Publication Date:
2009-06-09
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 172 Document Number: C29031
Notes:
Presented at the Association for Communication Excellence (ACE) conference, Des Moines, Iowa, June 9, 2009. 44 pages., Findings confirm the wide scatter of literature about this field, identify substantial amount of such research being conducted by a wide range of authors and reported through more than 100 scholarly journals during that period. Findings also reveal the breadth of journal literature being identified through efforts of the Agricultural Communications Documentation Center. Authors call for more collaborative research efforts.
20 pgs., Several U.S. federal government agencies collect and disseminate scientific data on a national scale to provide insights for agricultural trade, research, consumer health, and policy. Occasionally, such data have potential to provide insights to advance conversations and actions around critical and controversial issues in the broad agricultural system. Such government studies provide evidence for others to discuss, further interpret, and act upon, but to do so, they must be communicated well. When the research intersects with contentious socio-political issues, successful communication not only depends on tactics, but as this study illuminates, it also depends on relationship quality between research producers, study participants, and end-users. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) conducted first-of-its kind national studies on cattle and swine producers’ use of antimicrobials. The use of antimicrobials in animal agriculture is considered a critical and controversial issue pertaining to antimicrobial resistance. In recognition of the anticipated wide-ranging interests in these studies, APHIS sought to understand stakeholders’ perceptions and experiences of the federal government research process and products with aim of improving their science communication and relations. This study reports on findings from in-depth interviews with 14 stakeholders involved in the antimicrobial use studies to make recommendations for improving communication and relations between the agency and its stakeholders. From this research, we draw implications that are transferrable to numerous types of government science communication efforts within agricultural sectors.
