Department of Urban Planning, University of Kansas, 1465 Jayhawk Boulevard, 317 Marvin Hall, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.
Environ Manage. 2013 Feb;51(2):379-91. doi: 10.1007/s00267-012-9991-6. Epub 2012 Dec 11.
While farming has been the subject of frequent critical analysis with respect to its environmental impacts, including its greenhouse gas emissions, there has been relatively little consideration of the potentially positive role of agriculture in responding to a future greatly influenced by climate change. One possible realm for agriculture to contribute successfully to this future is through biofuels cultivation. This paper uses the state of Kansas as an example to examine factors that are influencing farmer decision-making during a time of heightened debates about climate and energy. Drawing on interviews with key informants and Kansas farmers, we apply and refine a conceptual model for understanding farmer decisions. We find that farmers have largely positive perceptions of the natural environment. Climate change, especially, is not a salient concern at this time. Factors that appear most likely to influence farmer decisions to adopt a new practice include the relative advantage of that practice and the ability to learn about and discuss it through existing social networks. Successful policy incentives must provide farmers with a continued sense of both independence and contribution to greater societal good.
虽然农业一直是环境影响（包括温室气体排放）的频繁批评对象，但对于农业在应对未来受气候变化极大影响方面可能发挥的积极作用，关注相对较少。农业可能成功做出贡献的一个领域是生物燃料种植。本文以堪萨斯州为例，研究了在关于气候和能源的激烈辩论时期影响农民决策的因素。通过对主要知情人和堪萨斯州农民的采访，我们应用和完善了一个理解农民决策的概念模型。我们发现，农民对自然环境的看法总体上是积极的。气候变化目前并不是一个突出的关注点。似乎最有可能影响农民采用新做法的因素包括该做法的相对优势以及通过现有社交网络了解和讨论该做法的能力。成功的政策激励措施必须让农民持续感受到独立性和对更广泛的社会利益的贡献。
