Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T16:12:18.507Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Increasing the effectiveness of technology transfer for conservation cropping systems through research and field design

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2007

O. Forté-Gardner ,
F.L. Young ,
D.A. Dillman  and
M.S. Carroll
O. Forté-Gardner*
Affiliation:
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
F.L. Young*
Affiliation:
USDA-ARS, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
D.A. Dillman
Affiliation:
Social and Economic Sciences Research Center, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
M.S. Carroll
Affiliation:
Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
*
*Corresponding author: youngfl@wsu.edu
*Corresponding author: youngfl@wsu.edu
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

A survey was conducted in 2002 to measure the success of technology transfered to growers (i.e., changes in attitudes and behaviors) from a long-term, large-scale, integrated cropping systems experiment called the Ralston Project, near Ralston, Washington, USA. Non-irrigated, cereal and oilseed growers who participated in biennial field tours (1996–2000) were mailed a self-administered questionnaire, which asked about: (1) their interest, use and adoption of technology developed or demonstrated in the project; (2) their opinions about the project's collaborators, planning and design; and (3) their overall impressions of the project. One hundred and one eligible growers responded to the questionnaire, for a 55% overall response rate and a 62% completion rate. Survey results confirmed that the Ralston Project field tours were a successful means of technology transfer among participants. Seventy-seven percent of growers found one or more project technologies particularly useful to their own production operation(s). More than 60% conducted independent trials with one or more technologies, with 50% of these trials resulting in permanent adoptions. The project's planning and design had a more positive effect on growers' opinion of the project than the type of collaborations and sources of funding. Specific strategies that had a substantially positive effect on growers' opinions included: (1) the project's ‘whole system’ treatment design; (2) use of large plots to accommodate field-sized equipment; and (3) collaboration among scientific disciplines and with local growers. Seven variables known to influence the adoption of innovation were also tested against growers' decisions to try any of the project's technology in their own farm operations. Personal character variables influenced individuals' decisions to try project technology more so than environmental conditions. Level of education, previous adoption behavior and average annual rainfall significantly influenced growers' behavior (P<0.05). Our survey population consisted of early users of conservation-based farming technology, primarily innovators and early adopters. The Ralston Project made the greatest impact on current adopters and users of conservation-based farming technology. Interest among non-users was also high enough to suggest that the Ralston Project contributed positively to the diffusion of conservation cropping systems and associated technology into the greater grower community. We discovered from this survey that the planning and execution of field research plays a significant and influential role in transferring more complex, and perhaps high-risk, conservation-based farm technology. By understanding how research and field design affect different user groups within the grower community, professionals can identify appropriate strategies to expand interest beyond their primary target audience and influence attitudes and behaviors that facilitate widespread adoption.

Keywords

diffusionadoptionimpactconservation cropping systemstechnology transferRalston Project
Type
Research Article
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 19 , Issue 4 , December 2004 , pp. 199 - 209
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Papendick, R.I. and Parr, J.F. 2004. Farming with the wind II: Wind erosion and air quality control on the Columbia Basin Plateau and Columbia Basin – a special report by the Columbia Basin Plateau PM10 Project. Washington State University Extension Bulletin 1072, Pullman, WA.Google Scholar
2Papendick, R.I. and Michalson, E.L. 1999. STEEP – A model for solving conservation and environmental problems. In Michalson, E.L., Papendick, R.I., and Carlson, J.E. (eds). Conservation Farming in the United States: The Methods and Accomplishments of the STEEP Program. CRC Press, Boca Raton. p. 11–22.Google Scholar
3Pacific Northwest Direct-Seed Cropping System Coalition. 2002. Retooling agriculture: a report on direct-seed cropping systems research in the Pacific Northwest. PNW Extension Publication PNW553.Google Scholar
4Rogers, E.M. 1962. Diffusion of Innovations. Free Press of Glencoe, New York.Google Scholar
5Rogers, E.M. 1995. Diffusion of Innovations. 4th ed.Free Press, New York.Google ScholarPubMed
6Upadhyay, B.L.Young, D.L.Wang, H.H. and Wandschneider, P. 2003. How do farmers who adopt multiple conservation practices differ from their neighbors? American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 18(1):27–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7Carlson, J.E.Dillman, D.A. and Lamiman, C.E. 1987. The present and future use of no-till in the Palouse. Research Bulletin No. 140. Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho.Google Scholar
8Lanyon, L.E. 1994. Participatory assistance: an alternative to transfer of technology for promoting change on farms. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 9(3):136–146.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9Watkins, G. 1990. Participatory research: a farmer's perspective. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 5(4):161–162.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10Carlson, J.E. and Dillman, D.A. 1999. The adoption of soil conservation practices in the Palouse. In Michalson, E.L., Papendick, R.I., and Carlson, J.E. (eds). Conservation Farming in the United States: The Methods and Accomplishments of the STEEP Program. CRC Press, Boca Raton. p. 157–171.Google Scholar
11Dillman, D.A.Engle, C.F.Long, J.S. and Lamiman, C.E. 1989. Others influencing others: who you target makes a difference. Journal of Extension 27:19–22.Google Scholar
12Wuest, S.B.McCool, D.K.Miller, B.C. and Veseth, R.J. 1999. Development of more effective conservation farming systems through participatory on-farm research. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 14(3):98–102.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13Young, F.L.Ogg, A.G. Jr, and Papendick, R.I. 1994. Case studies of integrated-whole farm system designs: field-scale replicated IPM trials. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 9(1,2):52–56.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14US Department of Agriculture – Natural Resource Conservation Service. 2000. Cropland wind erosion story. National Resources Inventory. Available at Web site http://www.wa.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/NRI/factsheets/index.html (verified 23 June 2004).Google Scholar
15Papendick, R.I. 1996. Farming systems and conservation needs in the Northwest Wheat Region. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 11(2,3):52–57.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16Saxton, K.E. 1996. Agricultural wind erosion on air quality impacts: a comprehensive research program. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 11(2,3):64–69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17Forte-Gardner, O.R. and Young, F.L. 2000. The Ralston Project: Field Tour 2000. Technical Report 00–03. Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA.Google Scholar
18Thorne, M.E.Young, F.L.Pan, W.L.Bafus, R. and Alldredge, J.R. 2003. No-till spring cereal cropping systems reduce wind erosion susceptibility in the wheat/fallow region of the Pacific Northwest. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 58(5):250–257.Google Scholar
19Rzewnicki, P. 1991. Farmers’ perceptions of experiment station research, demonstrations, and on-farm research in agronomy. Journal of Agronomic Education 20:31–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20Rosmann, R.L. 1994. Farmer initiated on-farm research. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 9(1,2):34–37.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
21Dillman, D.A. 2000. Mail and Internet Surveys: The Tailored Design Method. 2nd ed.John Wiley & Sons, New York.Google Scholar
22Salant, P. and Dillman, D.A. 1994. How to Conduct a Survey. John Wiley & Sons, New York.Google Scholar
23Bourque, L.B. and Fielder, E.P. 1995. How to Conduct Self-Administered and Mail Surveys. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA.Google Scholar
24SAS Institute Inc. 1999. SAS Online Doc1, Version 8. Cary, NC, USA.Google Scholar
25Blalock, H.M. Jr. 1979. Social Statistics. 2nd ed.McGraw-Hill, New York.Google Scholar
26Carlson, J.E.Schnabel, B.Beus, C.E. and Dillman, D.A. 1994. Changes in the soil conservation behaviors of farmers in the Palouse and Camas Prairies: 1976–1990. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 49(5):493–500.Google Scholar
27Scott, R.D.Wandschneider, P.R.Fultz, D. and Klungland, M. 1997. Focusing on wind erosion and PM10 knowledge and practices: a dryland farmer survey. Report submitted to Washington Department of Ecology and US Environmental Protection Agency. Columbia Basin PM10/WindErosion Project, Department of Agricultural Economics, Washington State University, Pullman, WA.Google Scholar
28USDA-NRCS. 2000. Washington State Annual Precipitation. Available at Web site http://www.ncgc.nrcs.usda.gov/branch/gdb/products/climate/data/precipitation-state/wa.html (verified 24 June 2004).Google Scholar
29Young, D.L.Kwon, T. and Young, F.L. 1994. Profit and risk for integrated conservation farming systems in the Palouse. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 49(6):601–606.Google Scholar
30Bues, C.Granatstein, D.Painter, K. and Carlson, J. 1990. Prospects for Sustainable Agriculture in the Palouse: Farmer Experiences and Viewpoints. Technical Rpt. XB1016. Agricultural Research Center, WSU, Pullman, WA.Google Scholar