Sally P. Marsh

Agricultural extension policy in Australia: the good, the bad and the misguided

In most states of Australia, agricultural extension policies and practices have increasingly been based on considerations of private/public goods, user pays and cost recovery. In addition, the delivery of extension has been strongly influenced by changing administrative structures and a change in the paradigm within which the extension community operates. These changes have had major impacts, including more extension being delivered by the private sector. There are positive aspects to the changes and, for some issues, they are appropriate. However, we have a number of reservations, particularly about the effectiveness of current extension systems in assisting the adoption of complex environmental and farming system technologies.

The Economics of Land Fragmentation in the North of Vietnam

Land fragmentation, where a single farm has a number of parcels of land, is a common feature of agriculture in many countries, especially in developing countries. In Vietnam, land fragmentation is common, especially in the north. For the whole country, there are about 75 million parcels of land, an average of seven to eight plots per farm household. Such fragmentation can be seen to have negative and positive benefits for farm households and the community generally. Comparative statics analysis and analysis of survey data have led to the conclusion that small-sized farms are likely to be more fragmented, and that fragmentation had a negative impact on crop productivity and increased family labour use and other money expenses. Policies which allow the appropriate opportunity cost of labour to be reflected at the farm level may provide appropriate incentives to trigger farm size change and land consolidation. Policies which tip the benefits in favour of fewer and larger plots, such as strong and effective research and development, an active extension system and strong administrative management, may also lead to land consolidation.

The impact of agricultural extension on adoption and diffusion of lupins as a new crop in Western Australia.

The growth of the sweet white lupin industry in Western Australia is a classic case of the adoption and diffusion of a new innovation in agriculture. In 1979, following the release of the cultivar Illyarrie, and the development of effective agronomic practices, the Western Australian Department of Agriculture (Agriculture Western Australia) commenced a major extension campaign to promote lupins. Between 1978 and 1987, the area of lupins grown increased from 39 000 to 877 000 ha. However, the pattern of adoption varied widely between regions, with differences in starting time, rate and ceiling levels of adoption. In this paper, we examine regional differences in the start time of the adoption process, and estimate the impact of various factors by using multivariate regression analysis. Results suggest that both Agriculture Western Australia extension activities and the presence of private consultants contributed to earlier start times of the adoption process.

Decision-making by regional bodies for natural resource management in Australia: current processes and capacity gaps

In Australia, major government programmes for management of the environment and natural resources rely on planning and prioritisation by regional natural resource management bodies. The task faced by these organisations is complex. In this study, we qualitatively analysed phone interviews with a sample of regional bodies to identify areas where the use of information in decision-making could be improved. The type of information used was largely biophysical, with relatively poor consideration of economic and social information. Even for the biophysical information, there was very little assessment regarding the quality of the information. Regional bodies face particular challenges in relation to integration and interpretation of information, and evaluation of their own investments. Results of this study highlight the need for these bodies to become more systematic users of information, with stronger processes to integrate knowledge from a range of disciplines and from regional stakeholders.

Agricultural extension policy and practice in Australia: An overview

Abstract Rapid change in the provision of agricultural extension services is occurring in all states of Australia. In most states, policies and practices have increasingly been based on considerations of private/public goods, competitive neutrality, user pays and cost recovery. In addition, the delivery of extension has been strongly influenced by changing administrative structures and a change in the paradigm within which the extension community operates. These changes in policy/ideology/paradigm have had major impacts, including a rapid increase in the amount of extension being delivered by the private sector. In this paper we provide an overview of changes and trends in extension policy and practice in Australia, which include: - emphasis on government providing services in public-good areas; - greater involvement of the private sector in the funding and delivery of agricultural extension; - group-based extension activities directed through nationally-based programs; emphasis on development of the huma...

Computer games and fun in farming systems education?: A case study

Abstract An interactive group‐based farm simulation game used in Australia for farming‐systems education is described. The computer‐aided game is the main feature of a facilitated one‐day workshop. The game and the workshop are designed to feature fun and learning for farming systems. Responses of game players are collated to reveal their perceptions and experiences of the game. Player feedback indicates that they find the game challenging, entertaining and effective in conveying a range of farming systems issues. The Australian experience shows that it is possible to design a game package that harnesses the beneficial elements of fun, group activity, facilitation, computer simulation and peer competition; with the outcome of stimulating and facilitating peoples learning about fanning systems.

Understanding farmers' monitoring of water tables for salinity management

Given the prominence of dryland salinity as a resource management problem in Australia, it might be expected that farmers would keenly monitor the levels of saline groundwater under their farms. However, many farmers choose not to monitor, in some cases even when they have previously installed bores suitable for this purpose. We investigated this apparent paradox by analysing the monitoring behaviour of a group of farmers in the Jerramungup region of southern Western Australia. The farmers are unusual in displaying a very high rate of monitoring compared with other regions, although this rate has fallen over the past decade. A range of physical, economic and social influences on monitoring behaviour are identified by statistical analysis of survey and physical data. A key finding is that farmers who are using the information from monitoring to assess salinity management strategies implemented on their farms are likely to monitor more frequently. This suggests that monitoring frequency may be driven in large part by the availability of suitable salinity management practices that can be implemented, in contrast to the view that adoption of salinity management practices may be enhanced by programs that encourage monitoring.

Understanding farmer monitoring of a "sustainability indicator": depth to Saline Groundwater in Western Australia

Dryland salinity is a serious resource conservation problem in Western Australia. A number of projects are in progress to provide more comprehensive information about the location and extent of potential saline areas in the landscape. Associated with some of these projects, a large number of bores have been installed or are being installed throughout the agricultural area to provide information on depth to groundwater. This information helps to forecast the rate and extent of salinisation of soils and to assess impacts of current treatments. However, many farmers choose not to install bores, or having installed them, do not continue to monitor them. Using data from the Jerramungup Land Conservation District (LCD) we explore factors influencing the behaviour of farmers in choosing whether or not to monitor their existing bores. In 1989, 110 bores were sunk in seven catchments in the district. Monitoring was initially exceptionally high, with 96% of bores observed in 1990, but then fell steadily to 44% by 1997. Our statistical analysis indicates that the probability that a bore will be monitored decreases with time and is influenced by the current depth to groundwater, the amount of salt stored in the soil and the farm location. As well as these physical factors, we explore some of the sociological and economic factors which influence bore monitoring behaviour. Monitoring is more likely to continue when farmers are clearly able to link the collected information with land management practices, such that the information collected is of potential economic value.