scholarly journals Over the fence: understanding what people do and how they might change

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 39-45
Author(s):  
A.P. Rhodes ◽  
M.J. Casey ◽  
T.A. Payne ◽  
M. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Production ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Practice Change ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Complex Ecosystem ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Environmental Demands ◽  
Agricultural Production Systems

Landholders in New Zealand hill country are being challenged in the future to provide the resource for increasing agricultural productivity while balancing social and environmental demands. This will lead to an increasingly complex ecosystem which challenges simple approaches to achieving change on farm. This paper discusses principles such as degree of complexity, systems thinking in farming systems, knowledge, and barriers to decision making and adoption in relation to agricultural production systems. These concepts are often little considered or understood where there is an expectation of uptake of new technologies or an increased rate of practice change. Better understanding and consideration of these concepts could help in the development and design of more effective extension programmes. Keywords: behaviour change, adoption, extension, farming systems, complexity, barriers, knowledge

scholarly journals Farm systems analysis of two thistles of differing seasonal pasture growth impacts in North Island hill country

2019 ◽  
pp. 149-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Stevens ◽  
Katherine N. Tozer ◽  
Tim Rhodes ◽  
Sue M. Zydenbos ◽  
Robyn A. Dynes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systems Analysis ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Cirsium Arvense ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Silybum Marianum ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Californian Thistle ◽  
Agricultural Production Systems

Models for infestations of Californian thistle (Cirsium arvense) and variegated thistle (Silybum marianum) were used to modify fortnightly pasture growth forecasts using Agricultural Production Systems simulator software using climate and soil data from a single farm (Tangihanga Station) over four aspects and three slope classes. Modelling using Farmax software was used to estimate profitability using the current farm enterprises with or without either the Californian or variegated thistles. Modelled pasture production, based on field observations of thistle infestation, was similar to estimates using animal intake (from Farmax). Californian thistle reduced pasture production in summer and autumn, while variegated thistle reduced autumn, winter and spring pasture growth. Californian thistle had a much greater overall presence (20%) than variegated thistle (9%). Both types of thistle reduced the potential to finish lambs in summer and reduced ewe wintering numbers, while the presence of Californian thistles also reduced over-wintering cattle numbers, by reducing summer-autumn pasture accumulation. Cost of control for Californian thistle ($233/ha) over two years was higher than for variegated thistle ($184/ha) over four years. Net profitability was reduced by 24% ($87/ha) by the presence of Californian thistle, and by 37% ($135/ha) by the presence of variegated thistle.

Translational learnings from Australia: How SPAA plays a role in increasing the adoption of precision agriculture

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 694-697 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Dimos ◽  
R. Schaefer ◽  
E. Leonard ◽  
J. Koch
Keyword(s):  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Sugar Industry ◽  
Independent Source ◽  
New Concepts ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Agricultural Production Systems

The Society of Precision Agriculture Australia Inc. (SPAA) is recognised as a leading, grower driven farming group in Australia. As an organisation it provides programs and services to its members and wider industry to promote the development and adoption of Precision Agriculture (PA) technologies as a means of enhancing the profitability and sustainability of agricultural production systems. This is achieved through publishing Australia’s only PA-dedicated magazine, delivering field days, seminars and conducting on-farm PA demonstrations and experiments. SPAA provides farmers with an independent source of advice on new concepts and equipment. The grains industry was the springboard for initial adoption, with winegrapes, horticulture and the sugar industry the focus sectors for further expansion. The purpose of this paper is to share the SPAA experience with a view to assisting the development of similar organisations in other countries

scholarly journals Assessment of indigenous tree species conservation in subsistence agricultural production systems: A case study of Lari Sub-county, Kiambu County, Kenya

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-63
Author(s):  
KAMAU MARYGORETTI WAWIRA ◽  
THUITA THENYA
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Fuel Wood ◽  
Indigenous Tree Species ◽  
Indigenous Trees ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Agricultural Production Systems

Wawira KM, Thenya T. 2017. Assessment of indigenous tree species conservation in subsistence agricultural production systems: A case study of Lari Sub-county, Kiambu County, Kenya. Asian J For 1: 55-63. Conservation of indigenous trees is important because they regulate nutrients, build organic matter of topsoil, fix nitrogen and create habitat for beneficial soil micro-organisms. Subsistence agriculture is characteristic land use feature in Kenya especially in the humid and sub-humid regions. Often indigenous trees are cleared to pave way for farming and replaced with exotic trees. The results showed that various indigenous tree species were retained on-farm including species like Acacia abyssinica, Olea europaena, Ficus thonningii, Brachylaena hutchinsii, Allophylus abyssinicus, Vitex keniensis and Prunus africana. The remnants of indigenous trees were scattered on farm with 57.4% along the boundary, 38.9% around the homestead 2.6% inside the farm and on riverine areas 1.1%. Soil conservation, timber, and fuel wood, were given as the main reasons for conserving indigenous tree species on the farm. While the main reason for planting exotic on farm includes economic purposes like income, fuel wood and decreased land sizes, according to 60% of respondents. Overall the findings indicate significant decrease of indigenous trees conservation on farm due to longer maturity span compared to exotic trees. There is need to promote alternative uses of indigenous trees as well as reinforce the 10% tree cover to include that 2% of the latter should be indigenous in nature.

Pathways ahead for New Zealand hill country farming

2016 ◽  
Vol 78 ◽  
pp. 73-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
F.G. Scrimgeour
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
The Status ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Hill Farming ◽  
The Hill

This paper provides a stocktake of the status of hill country farming in New Zealand and addresses the challenges which will determine its future state and performance. It arises out of the Hill Country Symposium, held in Rotorua, New Zealand, 12-13 April 2016. This paper surveys people, policy, business and change, farming systems for hill country, soil nutrients and the environment, plants for hill country, animals, animal feeding and productivity, and strategies for achieving sustainable outcomes in the hill country. This paper concludes by identifying approaches to: support current and future hill country farmers and service providers, to effectively and efficiently deal with change; link hill farming businesses to effective value chains and new markets to achieve sufficient and stable profitability; reward farmers for the careful management of natural resources on their farm; ensure that new technologies which improve the efficient use of input resources are developed; and strategies to achieve vibrant rural communities which strengthen hill country farming businesses and their service providers. Keywords: farming systems, hill country, people, policy, productivity, profitability, sustainability

Prospects for the development of agrarian production systems in in the Right Bank Polesie of Ukraine

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (95) ◽  
pp. 69-72
Author(s):  
Yu.A. Tarariko ◽  
L.V. Datsko ◽  
M.O. Datsko
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Capital Investments ◽  
Resource Potential ◽  
Grain Processing ◽  
Processing And Storage ◽  
The Right ◽  
And Storage ◽  
Agricultural Production Systems

The aim of the work is to assess the existing and prospective models for the development of agricultural production in Central Polesie on the basis of economic feasibility and ecological balance. The evaluation of promising agricultural production systems was carried out with the help of simulation modeling of various infrastructure options at the levels of crop and multisectoral specialization of agroecosystems. The agro-resource potential of Central Polesie is better implemented in the rotation with lupine, corn and flax dolguntsem with well-developed infrastructure, including crop, livestock units, grain processing and storage systems, feed, finished products and waste processing in the bioenergetic station. The expected income for the formation of such an infrastructure is almost 8 thousand dollars. / with a payback period of capital investments of 2-3 years.

Development of more effective conservation farming systems through participatory on-farm research

1999 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 98-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.B. Wuest ◽  
D.K. McCool ◽  
B.C. Miller ◽  
R.J. Veseth
Keyword(s):  
Participatory Research ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Scientific Methods ◽  
Conservation Farming ◽  
Working Together ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Current Emphasis

AbstractResearch aimed at advancing conservation farming practices is typically performed using traditional scientific approaches, which have been highly successful in increasing agricultural output and efficiency. With the current emphasis on environmental and economic sustainability of agriculture, there is a need for a more integrated approach to applied agricultural research. Participatory research helps to bring scientific methods and the integrated production needs of farmers together to develop practical, effective, and carefully tested farming methods. The strength of participatory research is in the synergism of scientists and farmers working together to design, implement, and evaluate research. The development of new technologies for farming systems large or small, conventional or organic, can be greatly enhanced through more extensive use of participatory research.

Designing sustainable agricultural production systems for a changing world: Methods and applications

2014 ◽  
Vol 126 ◽  
pp. 1-2 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Dogliotti ◽  
D. Rodríguez ◽  
S. López-Ridaura ◽  
P. Tittonell ◽  
W.A.H. Rossing
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Agricultural Production Systems ◽  
Changing World
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