Asprooth L, Norton M, Galt R
Geography Graduate Group, University of California, 129 Hunt Hall, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616 USA.
Bioeconomy Institute, Iowa State University, 1140 Biorenewables Research Lab, 617 Bissel Road, Ames, IA 50011 USA.
Agric Human Values. 2023 May 3:1-22. doi: 10.1007/s10460-023-10451-5.
Substantial evidence has shown that involvement in peer-to-peer farming networks influences whether a farmer decides to try a new practice. Formally organized farmer networks are emerging as a unique entity that blend the benefits of decentralized exchange of farmer knowledge within the structure of an organization providing a variety of sources of information and forms of engagement. We define formal farmer networks as farmer networks with a distinct membership and organizational structure, leadership that includes farmers, and an emphasis on peer-to-peer learning. This study complements existing ethnographic research on the benefits of organized farmer networking by examining farmers in one longstanding formal farmer network, Practical Farmers of Iowa. Using a nested, mixed-method research design, we analyzed survey and interview data to understand how participation and forms of engagement in the network are associated with the adoption of conservation practices. Responses from 677 farmers from a regular member survey disseminated by Practical Farmers of Iowa in 2013, 2017, and 2020 were pooled and analyzed. GLM binomial and ordered logistic regression results indicate that greater participation in the network, particularly through in-person formats, has a strong and significant association with greater adoption of conservation practices. Logistic regression results show that building relationships in the network is the most important variable for predicting whether a farmer reported adopting conservation practices as a result of participation in PFI. In-depth interviews with 26 surveyed member farmers revealed that PFI supports farmers to adopt by providing information, resources, encouragement, confidence building, and reinforcement. In-person learning formats were more important to farmers relative to independent formats because they were able to have side conversations with other farmers, ask questions, and observe results. We conclude that formal networks are a promising way to expand the use of conservation practices, particularly through targeted efforts to increase relationship building in the network through face-to-face learning opportunities.
大量证据表明，参与点对点农业网络会影响农民是否决定尝试新的做法。正式组织的农民网络正在成为一个独特的实体，它将农民知识分散交流的好处与一个提供各种信息来源和参与形式的组织结构相结合。我们将正式农民网络定义为具有独特成员资格和组织结构、包括农民在内的领导层并强调点对点学习的农民网络。本研究通过考察爱荷华州实际农民这个长期存在的正式农民网络中的农民，对现有关于有组织的农民网络益处的人种志研究进行了补充。我们采用嵌套式混合方法研究设计，分析了调查和访谈数据，以了解网络参与度和参与形式如何与保护性措施的采用相关联。汇总并分析了爱荷华州实际农民在2013年、2017年和2020年进行的常规成员调查中677名农民的回复。广义线性模型二项式和有序逻辑回归结果表明，更多地参与网络，尤其是通过面对面形式参与，与更多地采用保护性措施有强烈且显著的关联。逻辑回归结果显示，在网络中建立关系是预测农民是否因参与爱荷华州实际农民组织而报告采用保护性措施的最重要变量。对26名接受调查的会员农民进行的深入访谈显示，爱荷华州实际农民组织通过提供信息、资源、鼓励、建立信心和强化支持农民采用这些措施。相对于独立形式，面对面学习形式对农民更重要，因为他们能够与其他农民进行私下交流、提问并观察结果。我们得出结论，正式网络是扩大保护性措施使用的一种有前景的方式，特别是通过有针对性地努力，通过面对面学习机会加强网络中的关系建设。
