Influence of farm management style on adoption of biologically integrated farming practices in California
Influence of farm management style on adoption of biologically integrated farming practices in California
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DOI：
10.1079/rafs200488
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发表时间：
2004-12-01
影响因子：
2.7
通讯作者：
Verdegaal, P
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Brodt, S;Klonsky, K;Verdegaal, P
我们从农场管理方式的角度考虑采用生物综合农业实践。农业实践的采用决策必须适应更广泛的农业决策背景，其中包括经济因素。环境、社会。家庭和个人的考虑。以及农业信息源的使用。根据对加州杏仁和酿酒葡萄种植者的研究，我们证明农民之间的管理风格存在很大差异，这些差异影响农场中信息来源的使用和基于生物学的实践的采用，并且这种采用不会对作物表现产生负面影响。我们使用了 Q 方法，这是一种使用因子分析的变体来获取定性数据的方法。旨在从 410 名种植者的目标样本中识别出三种不同的管理风格。环境管家的管理风格更注重保护自然资源，而不是获得尽可能高的产量或利润。生产最大化者具有不同的风格，优先考虑更传统的目标，即生产尽可能高的产量和质量，并将资源集中在农场而不是外部问题上。另一方面，网络企业家。重视在信息实地日等社会环境中学习创新技术。以公事公办的态度评价新信息，享受农外利益。对农业实践和信息来源进行的两季邮件调查表明，管理风格的差异会影响实践的采用。环境管理者更有可能实行生物害虫防治并鼓励野生动物，而不太可能使用毒性最强的化学品。生产最大化者更倾向于使用预防性和广谱化学品，而网络企业家更喜欢更具创新性的生物害虫控制，但倾向于避免耗时的文化实践。生产最大化者的特点是较少使用更多的社交形式的沟通。例如参加田间活动并与其他种植者交谈。作物健康和质量指标表明，几乎所有种植者都非常成功地管理作物。无论管理风格或实践选择如何。这些结果对于加强可持续农业的采用具有重要意义。特别是通过表明外展工作的内容和方法必须有所不同，以适应不同的农场管理风格。
We consider the adoption of biologically integrated agricultural practices from the perspective of farm management style. Adoption decisions for farming practices must fit into a broader farm decision-making context that incorporates economic. environmental, social. family and personal considerations. as well as use of agricultural information sources. Drawing from a study of California almond and winegrape growers, we demonstrate that management styles differ substantially among farmers, these differences affect use of information sources and adoption of biologically based practices on the farm, and such adoption does not negatively affect crop performance. We used Q-methodology, a method for eliciting qualitative data using a variant of factor analysis. to identify three distinct management styles among a purposive sample, of 410 growers. The Environmental Stewards' management style places higher priority on conservation of natural resources than on getting the highest possible yields or profits. Production Maximizers, with a different style, prioritize more traditional goals of producing the highest possible yields and quality and focusing resources on the farm rather than on outside concerns. Networking Entrepreneurs, on the other hand. value learning about innovative techniques in social contexts such as informational field days. evaluate new information with a business-like attitude and enjoy off-farm interests. A two-season mail survey of farming practices and information sources demonstrated that differences in management styles affect the adoption of practices. Environmental Stewards were more likely to practice biological pest control and encourage wildlife and less likely to use the most toxic chemicals. Production Maximizers had a greater tendency to use prophylactic and broad-spectrum chemicals, while Networking Entrepreneurs preferred more innovative biological pest controls but tended to avoid time-consuming cultural practices. Production Maximizers were distinguished by less use of more social forms of communication. such as attending field days and talking with other growers. Crop health and quality indicators showed that almost all growers were managing their crops very successfully. regardless of management style or choice of practices. These results hold important implications for efforts to increase the adoption of sustainable agriculture. especially by showing that contents and methods of outreach efforts must vary to accommodate diverse farm management styles.