Suchergebnisse

Abstract This research builds on the work of Busch and Lacy, who have written extensively about the sources of influence on the choice of research problems in the agricultural sciences at land‐grant universities. Employing data from a 1995–1996 nationwide survey of land‐grant agricultural scientists, I use multiple regression techniques to investigate the relative importance of 19 sources of influence on agricultural scientists engaged in six research areas: productionist‐oriented, sustainable agriculture, environmental, basic, consumer‐oriented, and rural community‐oriented. The first objective of this paper is to revisit and assess many of Busch and Lacy's findings about the influences on land‐grant agricultural scientists. I find that different types of land‐grant research are influenced by distinct combinations of factors. The second major objective is to extend Busch and Lacy's work by spotlighting the significant influences on sustainable agriculture research. My multivariate findings show that this research appears to exhibit influences that reflect its dual productionist and environmental character.

Abstract We test two sets of hypotheses concerning the association between gender and various structural and attitudinal variables, using data collected in two surveys (1979 and 1995–1996) from random samples of land‐grant agricultural scientists. The first set of hypotheses centers on the expectation that the resources and rewards of agricultural science are distributed unequally by gender. We find significant gender differences in scientists' postdoctoral work experience, academic rank, employment of graduate students, rate of book publication, and links with private industry. Our second set of hypotheses, drawing on the literatures of feminist epistemology and situated knowledge, focuses on the relationship between scientists' gender and perceptions of the goals of agricultural research. Our findings indicate that gender is unimportant in explaining differences in scientists' commitment to agricultural sustainability, environmental issues, and family farm preservation as important goals of land‐grant research. Yet we find significant gender differences in attitudes toward biotechnology and the growing links between land‐grant universities and private industry.

AbstractBeginning in 2012, seed potatoes in Washington State were associated with an outbreak of Potato virus Y (PVY), one of the oldest known plant viruses. The PVY outbreak seriously impacted commercial potato growers, who unknowingly purchased infected seed potatoes. Commercial potato growers, university researchers, and extension personnel blamed Washington seed potato growers for the PVY outbreak. Drawing on the literature about perceptions of innovation attributes, nonadoption of agricultural innovations, and farm‐level disease management, we offer a broader perspective on PVY management among Washington seed potato growers. We explore the reasons behind seed potato growers' nonadoption of a specific innovation that has the potential to protect potatoes from PVY problems. We argue that seed potato growers approach PVY management in logical and intentional ways, and have distinct reasons for choosing not to adopt certain PVY management practices. Our study contributes to scholarship on the perceived attributes and nonadoption of agricultural innovations, as well as interdisciplinary work on plant disease management. A better understanding of PVY management decision making can help efforts to ensure agricultural biosecurity, maintain crop quality and yield, and prevent economic losses within the potato industry in Washington State, the second largest producer of potatoes in the United States.

AbstractDrawing on the concept of "tactile space," we evaluate the experiential learning environment of a university extension field day event focused on a sustainable agriculture innovation: biodegradable plastic mulch. Introduced by sociologist Michael Carolan, "tactile spaces" are sensuously rich learning environments where participants interact with each other and the environment in an "embodied" and "embedded" manner leading to long‐lasting attitudinal and behavioral change. In our study, farmers, extension professionals, crop consultants, and mulch manufacturers participated in a field day event designed to provide both embodied and embedded experiences in an effort to stimulate interest in biodegradable plastic mulch, an economically and environmentally sustainable alternative to polyethylene mulch. Field day participants engaged in hands‐on demonstrations preceded and followed by focus group sessions. Enhancing the learning environment in these ways improved the success of the field day event by encouraging practice‐based forms of learning, which supplemented and reinforced the claims made about biodegradable plastic mulch. However, the tactile space could have been enriched by providing more opportunities for participants to become embedded within the environment, and by adding elements to overcome the temporal limitations of the field day event. This research contributes to the broader literature on participatory research and extension.

AbstractA collaborative effort between researchers at Washington State University and a small US town is used to highlight the challenges of community involvement in waste management decision‐making. The role of the US land‐grant co‐operative extension system in achieving effective community engagement around waste management and other challenging issues is also explored. Four concepts for resilient decision‐making are used as a framework for examining the merits of this project. The case study includes information gathered through in‐depth data collection and analysis over 32 months by engaging in participant observation and conducting a mail survey of 374 households.