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2. An assessment of smallholder soil and water conservation practices and perceptions in contrasting agro-ecological regions in Zimbabwe
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Musiyiwa, K. (author), Harris, D. (author), Filho, W. Leal (author), Gwenzi, W. (author), and Nyamangara, J. (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2017-06
- Published:
- Zimbabwe: Elsevier
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 162 Document Number: D07940
- Journal Title:
- Water Resources and Rural Development
- Journal Title Details:
- 9: 1-11
- Notes:
- full text
3. Cash for water creates win-win for ranchers: cooperation with environmental groups enhances water conservation
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Brooks,Rhonda (author)
- Format:
- unknown
- Publication Date:
- 2020-09
- Published:
- USA: Drovers CattleNetwork, Lenexa, Kansas.
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 201 Document Number: D11780
- Journal Title:
- Drovers
- Journal Title Details:
- : 10, 12
- Notes:
- Online from publisher., Case example of arrangements by which participating ranchers and farmers are compensated for water they did not use. Financial support provided through cooperation with various organizations and environmental groups, based on shared interest in enhancing water conservation.
4. Cultivate California educates residents about farms' need for water
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Karst, Tom (author)
- Format:
- Online article
- Publication Date:
- 2021-10-11
- Published:
- USA: The Packer
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 207 Document Number: D13111
- Notes:
- 3 pages
5. Do agricultural extension services promote adoption of soil and water conservation practices? evidence from northern Ghana
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Danso-Abbeam, Gideon (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-09-06
- Published:
- Netherlands: Elsevier B.V.
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 206 Document Number: D12801
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
- Journal Title Details:
- Vol. 10
- Notes:
- 10 pages, Agricultural environment in many developing economies has become increasingly unpredictable in recent decades as a result of climate change, increasing the risk of crop failure. Access to meaningful information is required to mitigate the negative effects of the changing environment. This study examined the impact of agricultural extension services on the adoption of soil and water conservation (SWC) practices using data obtained from farming households in Northern Ghana. A multivariate probit model was used to assess the simultaneous or/and substitution adoption of SWC practices, while endogenous switching probit (ESP) was used to estimate the impact of extension services on adoption of SWC practices to account for observed and unobserved heterogeneities. The results showed that most of the SWC practices were adopted jointly, and factors such as non-farm economic activites and farm size influence the adoption of SWC practices. Moreover, farmers who accessed agricultural extension services had a higher probability of adopting most of the SWC practices (crop rotation, contour ploughing and manure application), and those who did not benefit from extension services would have had an equally higher likelihood of adopting the SWC practices had they accessed the services. The findings of the study imply that enhancing agricultural extension services will reduce adoption gaps in SWC practices, and consequently reduce farmers’ exposure to climate-related agricultural production risks. With growing information and communication technologies, pluralistic extension service delivery that mixes governmental and private-sector-led approaches to extension operations to foster demand-driven extension delivery services are highly recommended.
6. Eyes wide shut: exploring practices of negotiated ignorance in water resources modelling and management
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Chong, Natalie (author), Deroubaix, José-Frédéric (author), and Bonhomme, Céline (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2018-12-01
- Published:
- Elsevier
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 32 Document Number: D10625
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Environmental Management
- Journal Title Details:
- 227: 286-293
- Notes:
- 8 pages., via online journal., Formalised methods to address uncertainty are becoming the norm in hydrological modelling, yet they remain fragmented and highly academic, thus limiting their utility for practitioners. Using a qualitative, empirical study of the PIREN-Seine program in France, this paper explores the proccesses behind this trend in an effort to elucidate its prevalence despite inherent limitations when applied to a decision-making context. We identify: 1/ displacement of ‘uncomfortable knowledge’, 2/ fragmented responsibility, 3/ confidence, and 4/ relational framing as interconnected factors, which concurrently support the production of scientific knowledge and the social construction of ignorance, whether it be wilful or intentional. We posit that ignorance is implicitly negotiated among researchers and practitioners in order to reconcile cognitive dissonance and maintain confidence, thereby allowing water managers to take action in the face of uncertainty. Finally, we put forth the notion that having our ‘eyes wide shut’ can be interpreted in two ways: one facilitates the normalisation of ignorance, leaving us vulnerable to unexpected surprises; the other promotes transparent and explicit communication in support of more adaptive and robust decisions.
7. Farmer attitudes toward proactive targeting of agricultural conservation programs
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Arbuckle, J. Gordon, Jr. (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2012-06-07
- Published:
- USA: Taylor & Francis
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 152 Document Number: D10146
- Journal Title:
- Society & Natural Resources
- Journal Title Details:
- 26(6) : 625-641
- Notes:
- 17 pages., via online journal, Calls for improved targeting of conservation resources are increasingly common. However, arguments for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of agricultural conservation programs through proactive targeting are often tempered by questions regarding political feasibility. Such questions rest on an assumption that there will be resistance to these approaches, whether from farmers, farm groups, or elected officials, yet there is little research-based evidence supporting that assumption. Analysis of data on Iowa farmers’ attitudes toward targeted conservation indicates that most farmers support targeted approaches. Specific factors associated with endorsement of targeted approaches include awareness of agriculture's environmental impacts, belief that farmers should address water quality problems, having experienced significant soil erosion, belief that extreme weather will become more common, participation in the Conservation Reserve Program, and belief that farmers who have natural resource issues are less likely to seek conservation assistance. Concerns about government intrusion were negative predictors of support for targeted approaches.
8. GreenCOM Egypt III Project
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Format:
- Case study
- Publication Date:
- 1997-1999
- Published:
- Egypt
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 196 Document Number: D08064
- Notes:
- John L. Woods Collection, Case file for a project supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development and coordinated with the Ministry of Public Works and Water Resources, Egypt. Conducted by the Academy for Educational Development and Chemonics International, Inc., Washington, D.C. Contains baseline research reports, communications and project strategies, materials produced, results and impact summaries. File includes 17 reports and folders containing materials, plus two CDs., Comprehensive case report, including assessment of results.
9. Improving on-farm water use efficiency: role of collective action in irrigation management
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Chaudhry, Anita M. (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2018
- Published:
- International
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 144 Document Number: D11550
- Journal Title:
- Water Resources and Economics
- Journal Title Details:
- 22 :4-18
- Notes:
- 15 pages., Online via UI e-subscription., Data from Pakistan prompt the author to suggest that underlying community characteristics and/or social interactions may be driving both the performance of water user associations and on-farm water use efficiency.
10. New solar panels allow farmers to see the light
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Nitta, Naoki (author)
- Format:
- Online Article
- Publication Date:
- 2023-01-16
- Published:
- United States: Modern Farmer Media
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 206 Document Number: D12884
- Journal Title:
- Modern Farmer
- Journal Title Details:
- Online
- Notes:
- 11pgs, Researchers harness sunlight to harvest energy and food together, utilizing the full spectrum of light to improve outputs.
11. Regional conservation partnership program: a tool for natural resources management across watersheds
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Adusumilli, Naveen (author)
- Format:
- Journal article abstract
- Publication Date:
- 2020-06
- Published:
- United States: Extension Journal, Inc.
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 203 Document Number: D12334
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- Vol. 58, Num. 2
- Notes:
- 4 pages, This article introduces the Regional Conservation Partnership Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service. The program encourages partnerships among Extension professionals, conservation agency representatives, and farmers that focus on addressing natural resources concerns through the development and implementation of regional watershed plans. These plans assist farmers in practicing sustainable crop and animal production methods. Extension professionals will find the program useful as a tool for building collaborations at watershed and regional scales to promote agricultural production practices that enhance natural resources conservation.
12. Social-cognitive conceptualization of Iranian farmers’ water conservation behavior
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Valizadeh, Naser (author), Bijani, Masoud (author), Hayati, Dariush (author), and Haghighi, Negin Fallah (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2019-06
- Published:
- United States: Springer
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 203 Document Number: D12270
- Journal Title:
- Hydrogeology Journal
- Journal Title Details:
- v. 27, iss. 4
- Notes:
- 12 pages, Many environmental dilemmas such as water scarcity originate from human behavior. This study aimed to analyze Iranian farmers’ water conservation behavior using Bandura’s social-cognitive theory. To this end, a cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect the required data. The research instrument was a questionnaire. A sample of 380 farmers was selected using a multistage stratified random sampling method. The results indicated that variables of social-cognitive theory could predict about 73% of farmers’ water conservation behavior variance. Investigation of direct effects of factors on farmers’ water conservation behavior revealed that the major determinants are as follows: intention of water conservation, social-structural factors, perception of others’ behavior, outcome expectancy, self-efficacy, and water conservation co-regulation. Findings showed that factors that have been mentioned in social-cognitive theory could be considered for enhancing farmers’ water conservation behaviors since the theory provides a more realistic insight into farmers’ behaviors with an emphasis on farmers’ social and structural contexts
13. Teaching engineering, teamwork and tolerance by bringing multi-discipline, multi-cultural students together via a project of common interest: vertical, hydroponic, smart garden with global and universal (space) applications
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Ruiz-Carpio, Miguel Rafael (author), Safai, Cyrus (author), Djobo, Arafat (author), Gaichuk, Ivan (author), and Safai, Nick M. (author)
- Format:
- Paper
- Publication Date:
- 2018
- Published:
- International
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 93 Document Number: D10863
- Notes:
- Poster/paper published in proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education annual conference and exposition, Salt Lake City, Utah. 2018, pages 1-15., Motivating, promoting interest in teaching engineering subjects is always a challenge for undergraduate engineering students especially for junior and lower level students. This approach also brought social awareness to members of the group, as well as tolerance and responsibility. It also emphasized to the students a tolerant and an open-minded world, now and forevermore. A group of multinational, multicultural undergraduate students at Salt Lake Community College, majoring in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Computer engineering are working on a project involving vertical farming, hydroponic watering, and making the plant growing process smart. Food and its availability is of major concern in all nations, especially the underdeveloped communities. Students get exposed to different engineering disciplines, and learn how to work in a multicultural team and become socially responsible in an ever increasing connected world. Each student also becomes a teacher to other students at times discussing his specialty and field of engineering.
14. The mediating role of farmers' time perspective in water resources exploitation behaviour in the eastern area of Lake Urmia, Iran: An environmental psychological analysis
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Sadeghi, Ali (author), Bijani, Masoud (author), and Farhadian, Homayoun (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2019-08
- Published:
- Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 78 Document Number: D10818
- Journal Title:
- Water and Environment Journal
- Notes:
- 15 pages., via online journal., This study aimed to analyse the mediating role of farmers' time perspective in water resources exploitation behaviour/s (WREB). The study was descriptive correlational and causal relational and was carried out using a survey. The statistical population consisted of farmers in the eastern area of Lake Urmia (N = 232 295), of whom 386 persons were selected using a stratified random sampling method. The instrument was a questionnaire, whose validity was confirmed by a panel of experts. Its reliability was also verified by performing the Cronbach's alpha test (0.60 ≥ α ≥ 0.94). The causal framework is presented based on the findings. In such a condition, self‐efficacy, psychological needs and time perspective had the highest total causal effect on farmers' WREB. Moreover, the results confirmed the mediating role of time perspective (as a personal variable) and time norms (as a social variable) in WREB. Therefore, the proper conduct of farmers' WREB needs to provide a futuristic perspective, which is also confirmed by social norms.
15. Understanding barriers and opportunities for adoption of conservation practices on rented farmland in the US
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Ranjan, Pranay (author), Wardroppe, Chloe B. (author), Eanes, Francis R. (author), Reddy, Sheila M. W. (author), Harden, Seth C. (author), Masuda, Yuta J. (author), and Prokopy, Linda S. (author)
- Format:
- Online journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2019-01
- Published:
- USA: Science Direct
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 8 Document Number: D10297
- Journal Title:
- Land Use Policy
- Journal Title Details:
- 80 : 214-223
- Notes:
- 10 pages., Via online journal., Agricultural conservation programs often focus on farm operators when promoting conservation practices. However, much of U.S. farmland is owned by landowners not directly involved in farm operations. Rental arrangements on these lands can dis-incentivize the adoption of conservation practices that could improve soil health, water quality, and land values. To date, agricultural conservation policy has largely ignored the role of non-operating landowners (NOLs) and rental arrangements. We help improve the evidence-base for policy by identifying barriers to adoption of conservation practices on rented farmlands. Analysis of forty interviews with NOLs, operators, farm managers and university extension personnel in Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana revealed five categories of barriers: cash rent lease terms, rental market dynamics, information deficits/asymmetries, cognitive/interpersonal, and financial motivations. Some barriers, such as risk aversion and farm aesthetics were expressed by both NOLs and operators, while other barriers, such as status quo bias and annual renewal of leases were only expressed by NOLs and operators, respectively. To overcome barriers to conservation, interviewees recommended improving communication between NOLs and operators and modifying cash rent lease terms in order to build in flexibility for equitable sharing of risks and rewards. Agricultural conservation programs could readily apply these results—possibly working with intermediaries (e.g., farm managers, lawyers)—to offer communication and lease tools and assistance to NOLS and operators. Future research should evaluate the efficacy of these conservation interventions and how intermediaries affect the balance of power between NOLs and operators.
16. Water conservation and climate change: using cognitive dissonance to engage the public
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Taylor, Melissa R. (author), Lamm, Alexa J. (author), and Lundy, Lisa K. (author)
- Format:
- Conference paper
- Publication Date:
- 2017-02
- Published:
- USA
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 163 Document Number: D08156
- Notes:
- Research paper presented in the Agricultural Communications Section, Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists (SAAS) conference in Mobile, Alabama, February 4-7, 2017. 22 pages.
17. Water conservation: extension agents’ perceptions of issue importance, professional abilities, and landowner needs
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- McCrary, Audrey (author), Burger, Leslie M. (author), Downey, Laura (author), and Baker, Beth H. (author)
- Format:
- Journal aricle
- Publication Date:
- 2022-03-11
- Published:
- United States: University of Clemson Press
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12533
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- V. 60, Iss. 1
- Notes:
- 13pgs, The Extension Service is one of many agencies charged with increasing awareness and knowledge of research-based agricultural conservation practices. A regional survey of Extension agents with agriculture and natural resources responsibilities was conducted to assess the need for in-service training on 11 water resource conservation topics. The highest priority training needs were for topics related to complex interactions and drivers of agricultural water pollution. This article highlights the implications of these results and offers broader perspective on bringing the Borich model of needs assessment into the agricultural and natural resources realm of subject matter expertise.
18. When female leaders believe that men are better leaders: Empowerment in community-based water management in rural Namibia
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Steinmanis, Ivo (author), Hofmann, Rebecca (author), Mbidzo, Meed (author), and Vollan, Björn (author)
- Format:
- Journal Article
- Publication Date:
- unknown
- Published:
- International: Elsevier
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 201 Document Number: D11876
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Rural Studies
- Journal Title Details:
- 79
- Notes:
- 10 pages, Decentralization of water management in Namibia follows a community-based co-management approach, emphasizing the inclusion of women in local leadership. Building on a random sample of 32 water point chairpersons, 17 female and 15 male, and 384 villagers in rural northern Namibia, we document that women are equally represented as chairpersons and that they are significantly more educated and younger than their male counterparts. However, most of the female leaders come from the family of the traditional leader. We then show that opinions about the role of a leader (such as the belief that ‘men make better leaders’ or ‘it is sometimes acceptable to take a bribe’) do not differ between male and female leaders. However, their opinions differ significantly from those of the average villager. Thus, our assessment reveals that although men and women are equally represented in numbers, it has not necessarily led to the adoption of new ideas about and conceptions of leadership and gender roles in practice so far. We discuss how some aspects of the democratic blueprint are accepted while others are rejected, adapted, or transformed to fit local specificities.