11 pages, This paper considers issues related to farmers' control of program planning for non-formal agricultural adult education1. Discussion is based on an empirical study of a $10 million Canadian sustainable agriculture education program that was initiated, created, and controlled by a coalition of farm organizations, supplanting a traditional role of extension. Theories of participatory extension education provide a theoretical framework for consideration of issues in the case. Participation theory guides the formation of partnerships among extension, communities, industry, and government. In the area of sustainable agriculture, however, stakeholders may conflict, presenting challenges to engagement and decision-making processes. Moreover, agricultural education researchers have produced little data to show effects of stakeholder involvement in program planning, putting the extension system at risk of desiring increased levels of engagement without a knowledge base about potential impacts. The study was conducted over a 3-year period using cultural anthropology and participatory action research. Farmers strongly influenced five program elements: (a) staffing, (b) content, (c) instruction, (d) evaluation, and (e) composition of planning group.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D01213
Notes:
Pages 325-330 in Waters-Bayer (eds.), Farmer innovation in Africa: a source of inspiration for agricultural development. Earthscan Publications, Ltd., London, England. 362 pages.
12 pages., via online journal., Similar to other parts of the world, European society is becoming increasingly urban, both in a physical as in an economic and socio-cultural sense. As a result, the relationships between society and nature, including forests, are changing, and forestry as structural intervention in forest ecosystems has had to adapt itself to changing societal pressures and demands. The planning and managing of woodlands in and near urban areas has been the most directly affected by the urbanisation process. Many European countries have a long tradition of ‘town forestry’, serving as basis for current developments in urban forestry, i.e. the planning and management of all forest and tree resources in and near urban areas for the benefit of local society. Through the adaptation to the specific demands of local urban societies, a type of forestry has emerged which is structurally different from classic forestry. It focuses, for example, on the social and environmental values of urban woodlands rather than on wood production and emphasising the importance of communication — ranging from information to participation/power sharing — between stakeholders. This paper investigates ways to communicate urban forests and forestry to urban inhabitants and other stakeholders, based on results of a comparative study of main European cities. It explores the role which urban forestry has been playing in the development of forestry at large, especially with regards to better incorporating changing social values and interests.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 180 Document Number: C36221
Notes:
Section 4 in Don Richardson and Lynnita Paisley (eds.), The first mile of connectivity, Communication for Development, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy. Via online. 14 pages.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 180 Document Number: C36206
Notes:
Section 1 in Don Richardson and Lynnita Paisley (eds.), The first mile of connectivity, Communication for Development, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy. Via online. 12 pages.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 181 Document Number: C36511
Notes:
Pages 63-64 in proceedings of a regional workshop: William M. Park (ed.), "Industrialized animal agriculture, environmental quality and strategies for collaborative problem solving and conflict resolution," Atlanta, Georgia, May 22, 1997. 65 pages., Sponsored by Southern Regional Information Exchange Group - 10, Southern Rural Development Center and the Farm Foundation. Briefly summarizes 10 lessons learned.
9 pages., via online journal., Natural Resource Management (NRM) can be looked upon from different perspectives: (1) the bio‐physical science perspective, (2) the economic perspective and (3) the social actor perspective. After briefly contrasting the three complementary perspectives, the article focuses on the third, which is the least developed. The social actor perspective requires that one distinguish between (1) the natural resource (be it a farm, a water catchment, underground water resources, etc.) and (2) the social actors who hold a stake in, and/or affect it. These stakeholders ideally form a platform for integral decision making about the natural resource. The platform/resource combination highlights communication processes of interest in sustainable NRM: creating a rich picture of intentions and realities; (land use) negotiation and accommodation; making things visible; raising the level of social aggregation at which platforms operate; and information systems for platform decision support. Such and other platform processes need active facilitation. The article outlines the implications for communication support, and explores professional contributions.
17 pages., Online via UI e-subscription, Author described a process which led to consensus on a new environmental law mediated by legislators and the governor. Identified key elements in the process: (1) the issue must be ripe for action; the parties must feel something may happen imminently without their input. (2) the issue must be complex, not likely to be addressed satisfactorily without cooperative problem solving. (3) the parties must be patient and committed to spending whatever time it takes to reach an agreement.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 197 Document Number: D09590
Notes:
Delmar Hatesohl Collection, Memo from leaders of the Agricultural Editor's Office to deans and department chairs of the College of Agriculture, University of Missouri. 3 pages.
Pages 13-14 in Extension Circular 541, Review of Extension Research, January through December 1961, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. Summary of a thesis for the master of science degree in agricultural extension education, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. 1961. 141 pages.
Page 65-66 in Extension Circular 541, Review of Extension Research, January through December 1961, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. Summary of thesis for the master of agriculture in rural sociology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park. 1961. 71 pages.
Pages 14-15 in Extension Circular 541, Review of Extension Research, January through December 1961, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. Summary of a master's report for the master of education degree in extension education, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins. 1961. 115 pages.
Pages 62-63 in Extension Circular 541, Review of Extension Research, January through December 1961, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. Summary of masters report for the master of science in agricultural education, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater. 1961. 83 pages.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 39 Document Number: B04477
Notes:
Hal R. Taylor Collection (abstract), Madison, WI : University of Wisconsin, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Research Division, 1957. 51 p. (Research Bulletin 203)
USA: Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D09196
Notes:
Pages 382-387 in C. Winfield Scott and Clyde M. Hill (eds.).(1954) Public education under criticism. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. 413 pages., Published in Progressive Education, 1952, pp. 119-122, and reprinted in this book by permission.
Welch, C.H., Jr. (author) and Wilson, Meredith C. (author)
Format:
Research summary
Publication Date:
1951
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D08610
Notes:
Located in Review of Extension Studies, volumes for 1946-1956, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., Summary of a research report, U.S. Extension Service, Washington, D.C. 54 pages.
10 pages., via online journal., Peri-urban environments, where agriculture and urbanization interact, pose unique challenges for soil management. In Miami-Dade County, Florida USA, this interaction is especially important; a population of 2.7 million lives in an urban county with only 6% of the area zoned agriculture. Miami-Dade County is a major producer of tropical fruit and winter vegetables for the U.S., and is located within the Everglades ecosystem. Relatively little information is known about research and extension within peri-urban environments concerning soil health and management. Ethnopedological work has contributed to ethno-scientific knowledge by bridging the communication gap between scientists and locals concerning soil taxonomies, soil health, and soil fertility management. This study explores mental models of farmers and experts, examining the communication gap concerning soil health and food security. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from farmers (n = 19) and experts (n = 13). All stakeholders perceived pressures from urbanization as the main barrier to farmers' ability to continue to produce food, maintain their soil health, and contribute to national food security. The mental models of farmers reveal their ability to continue farming depends on their ability to construct and sustain a system—the soil food value chain. In this system, the farmer generates farm capital from a combination of high quality products, lower quality produce, and culls. This farm capital includes value-added products or soil amendments. However, experts did not perceive their responsibility to include maintaining a system, rather, only improving production. Experts' research and extension focused on improving product quality, increasing yield, decreasing cost of production, and minimizing the environmental impact of production. The mental models of farmers suggest research and extension related to building and maintaining the entire soil food value chain would increase the likelihood the farmers would better care for their soil and be profitable. This research contributes to the literature by recognizing the importance of examining the barriers to soil communication between stakeholders, as well as the importance to include examining soil within the larger food system.
