Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Adoption Preferences of Arable Growers in Ireland’s Atlantic-Influenced Climate
Abstract
:1. Introduction
- Characterize growers who deploy different crop establishment systems in terms of their socio-demographics and innovation adoption preferences (i.e., their need for local adoption, research, and support to consider innovation adoption/system change).
- Determine the information sources used by growers to help make decisions, ranging from system change to agronomic decisions, and if this was associated with the crop establishment system used.
- Determine how information was accessed by growers for different categories of decisions and if this was associated with the crop establishment systems used.
- Assess the level of management growers perceive as necessary to adopt non-inversion establishment systems and whether they believe sufficient research and adoption support is available.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Questionnaire Survey
2.2. Grower Selection
2.3. Survey Questions
2.4. Data Analysis
2.5. Limitations
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Study Area
3.2. Socio-Demographics
3.3. Innovation Adoption and Crop Establishment System Adoption Preferences
3.4. Perceived System Management Requirements and Growers Research and Extension Feedback/Preferences
3.5. Information Sources Used for Major Decisions and the Geographic Origin of This Information
3.6. Information Access Methods, Used for Major Decisions
3.7. Information Sources Used for Agronomic Decisions and the Geographic Origin of This Information
3.8. Information Access Methods Used for Agronomic Decisions
4. Conclusions
- As crop establishment system use is associated with grower education level, farm size, off-farm employment, and possibly age, these factors need to be considered when formulating dissemination packages to inform these groups about appropriate practices and the extent of supporting information.
- Those practicing min-till and particularly those practicing direct drilling were prepared to take more risk in technology adoption. While this can benefit adoption, there is a risk that systems that may not be fully suited to a particular climate may be adopted, reducing long-term sustainability.
- The majority of growers, regardless of system, agreed that non-inversion systems require more management and that there is insufficient research and extension for the adoption or management of these systems in an Atlantic-influenced climate. There is therefore a need to address this deficit to ensure appropriate adaptation and adoption of these crop establishment systems.
- The ranking of preferred information sources across all growers indicated the high value of peer-to-peer information dissemination methods along with independent advice. However, the higher ranking of non-local information sources by growers using non-inversion systems, particularly direct-drill users, further suggests that there are considerable information deficits in this area and consequent uncertainty about the local suitability of systems and the available management information.
- While modern digital information access methods are useful, tried and tested traditional methods must not be ignored, as most growers prefer these methods, which involve in-person interactions with others and the use of print media.
- It is clear that if the adoption of non-inversion systems is to be optimized in an Atlantic-influenced climate, more resources will need to be dedicated to both research and extension to determine their utility and, if necessary, to adapt them to the climate.
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Appendix A. Survey Questions and Response Options
- Question: What is your location (county)?
- Question: What is your age?
Response options: Age |
<25 |
25–40 |
41–50 |
51–65 |
Over 65 |
- Question: What is your education level?
Response options: Education level |
Primary education |
Secondary education |
Agricultural Certificate (1 year full-time (Level 5) or part-time (Green cert) equivalent) |
Agricultural College (2 years course (Level 6)) |
Institute of Technology 3 years ‘ordinary’ degree (Level 7) |
Level 8 Degree |
Master’s Degree |
PhD |
Notes: level refers to Irish National Framework of Qualifications levels. |
- Question: What is the total size in Ha where crop production is practiced on your farm?
- Question: Farming as an Occupation, is farming your?
Response options: Farming as an occupation |
Sole Occupation: (if an individual engaged in farm work had no other occupation from which an income was earned, then farm work was defined as the sole occupation). |
Major Occupation: (If farm work took up the greater part of a worker’s time than a second occupation, farming was to be regarded as the major occupation. |
Subsidiary Occupation: (If the time spent on gainful non-farming activity exceeded that spent on farm work then farm work was to be regarded as a subsidiary occupation. |
- Question: What percentage of your cropped area is established by these systems?
Response options: % of cropped area established with each system | |
% of cropped area | |
Plough | |
Min-till | |
Direct Drill |
- Question: Do you or your successor plan to still be tillage farming in 10 years?
Response options: Future farming intentions |
Yes |
No |
Don’t know |
- Question: What are the enterprises on your farm and what is their relative contribution to your farm income in %?
Response options: enterprises contribution to income | |
proportion of farm income % | |
Tillage | |
Dairy | |
Cattle (Sucklers) | |
Cattle (Drystock) | |
Sheep | |
Pigs | |
Poultry | |
Other |
- Question: How satisfied are you with your plough-based system? (plough-based respondents only)
Response options: satisfaction with plough-based system |
Satisfied with plough-based and unlikely to change in the near future |
Satisfied with plough-based but feeling pressurised to consider change |
Actively considering major tillage system change |
Have substantially changed (i.e., adopted system change across >50% of area) in recent years |
Other |
- Question: With regard to adoption of new farm systems, practices and technologies, it does not suit every farmer to be an early adopter or innovator of new farm systems, practices, and technologies. This is due to scale, the additional time required when adapting and refining new practices, the economic risks associated with adopting a new system, family circumstances, dependents, etc. Taking this into consideration, which category would you place yourself in with regard to the adoption of new technologies from the following?
Response options: innovation adoption preferences |
|
|
|
|
|
- Question: The following question deals with what you would need to see happening in order to adopt a new establishment system. Which of the following options best describes what you would need to see before adopting a new establishment system?
Response options: crop establishment system adoption preferences |
|
|
|
|
|
- Question: The implementation of the following tillage systems requires a higher degree of management than that of plough-based systems, do you?
Response options: perceived management requirements of non-inversion systems | |
Min-till | Direct Drill |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Don’t know/don’t want to answer | Don’t know/don’t want to answer |
- Question: Non-plough-based establishment systems need more attention from research bodies around developing management best practices suited for these systems, do you?
Response options: non-inversion systems research |
|
|
|
|
|
Don’t know/don’t want to answer |
- Question: Advisory bodies aren’t currently equipped with the information they need to properly advise farmers using these non-plough systems, do you?
Response options: non-inversion systems research |
|
|
|
|
|
Don’t know/don’t want to answer |
- Question: There are insufficient resources from research/advisory bodies available to support people wanting to adopting no-till or min-till systems in Ireland, do you?
Response options: non-inversion systems research |
|
|
|
|
|
Don’t know/don’t want to answer |
- Question: At a global level, Conservation Agriculture is defined as a system that promotes minimum soil disturbance, maintenance of a permanent soil cover, and diversification of plant species.
- In your view: Do we need to research and modify the detail of these systems to suit individual climates, yield potentials, and growing systems?
Response options: research preferences 1 |
No they should be adopted as a system with no variation |
No as they have no role in Ireland |
Yes some research is needed to tweak the system |
Yes but a comprehensive research programme is needed to develop for our climate soils and yields. |
- Question: Do we need to research the individual components (e.g., cover crop aspects, cultivation aspects, rotation/species mix aspects) to understand where any benefits may come from?
Response options: research preferences 2 |
No, it is a system and should only be evaluated as a system |
Yes, it is essential to see what elements contribute to the system performance. |
Yes, it is essential to see what elements contribute but also to evaluate them in combination to see if they interact with one another. |
- Question: For the last major change you made to your cropping program, this change could have been related to changing your cultivation system, adoption of new machinery/technologies, adoption of precision agriculture techniques, etc. From the following information sources, please rank the top 3 sources of information which helped you decide to make this change?
Response options: Information sources used for major change decisions |
Irish research (Teagasc, Universities, etc.) via Open days, conferences, publications |
Teagasc advisory (from specialists/advisors) |
ITLUS |
BASE Ireland |
Independent consultant (non Teagasc and non Commercial) |
Chemical companies |
Seed companies |
Co-op/Merchant |
Farm Machinery suppliers |
Technical Journalist |
UK Research |
International research (Outside UK and Ireland) |
Other farmers (either local or well-known public figures) |
Other |
- Question: Thinking of the source of the information you would use for major system change, would you consider the source of information to be?
Response options: Geographic origin of information sources used for major change decisions |
|
|
|
|
- Question: For the last major change you made to your cropping program referenced above. From the following ways to access information, please rank the top 3 ways of accessing information that you used to help you decide to make this change?
Response options: Information access methods used for major change decisions |
Technical papers/conferences |
Discussion groups |
Advisory bulletins |
YouTube |
WhatsApp Group |
Open days/field days |
Scientific Papers |
Farm magazines/newspapers (Irish Farmers Journal, Todays farm, Farmers weekly etc.) |
Online Farm Forums |
Research/Advice/Technical Websites |
In person meeting with Advisor/Other |
Other |
- Question: For the last agronomic change you made to your cropping program, this change could have been related to changing your fungicide, herbicide or pesticide application rates or products or changing your fertilizer program, etc. From the following information sources, please rank the top 3 sources of information which helped you decide to make this change?
Response options: Information sources used for agronomic decisions |
Irish research (Teagasc, Universities, etc.) via Open days, conferences, publications |
Teagasc advice (from specialists/advisors) |
ITLUS |
BASE Ireland |
Independent consultant (non Teagasc and non Commercial) |
Chemical companies |
Seed companies |
Co-op/Merchant |
Farm Machinery suppliers |
Technical Journalist |
UK Research |
International research (Outside UK and Ireland) |
Other farmers (either local or well-known public figures) |
Other |
- Question: Thinking of the source of the information you would use for agronomic changes, would you consider the source of information to be?
Response options: Geographic origin of information sources used for agronomic decisions |
Mainly > 75% from research or validated practice in Ireland |
Mostly 50–75% from research or validated practice in Ireland |
Mostly 50–75% from Research in UK/Europe/Other |
Mainly > 75% from research in UK/Europe/Other |
- Question: For the last agronomic change you made to your cropping program referenced above. From the following ways to access information, please rank the top 3 ways of accessing information that you used to help you decide to make this change?
Response options: Information access methods used for agronomic decisions |
Technical papers/conferences |
Discussion groups |
Advisory bulletins |
YouTube |
WhatsApp Group |
Open days/field days |
Scientific Papers |
Farm magazines/newspapers (Irish Farmers Journal, Todays farm, Farmers weekly etc.) |
Online Farm Forums |
Research/Advice/Technical Websites |
In person meeting with Advisor/Other |
Other |
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Grower Group | Statistical Parameters | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plough | Min-Till | Direct Drill | p1 | K-W 2 | |
Age (years) | n = 77 | n = 59 | n = 18 | ||
1. ≤40 years | 19.5% * | 27.1% | 38.9% | ||
2. 41–50 | 27.3% | 25.4% | 33.3% | ||
3. 51–65 | 37.7% | 37.3% | 22.2% | ||
4. >65 | 15.6% | 10.2% | 5.6% | ||
Mean of scale values | 2.5 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 0.09 | 4.763 |
Education (1–4 scale) | n = 77 | n = 59 | n = 18 | ||
1. Primary/Secondary | 18.2% | 15.3% | 0% | ||
2. Agricultural Certificate 3 | 50.6% | 42.4% | 16.7% | ||
3. Agricultural College 4 | 13% | 18.6% | 27.8% | ||
4. Level 7 Degree or above 5 | 18.2% | 23.7% | 55.6% | ||
Mean of scale values | 2.3 b | 2.5 b | 3.4 a | <0.001 | 16.163 |
Cropping area (ha) | n = 77 | n = 59 | n = 18 | ||
153.30 b | 233.31 a | 182.14 ab | <0.01 | 12.653 | |
Occupation (1–3 scale)6 | n = 77 | n = 59 | n = 18 | ||
1. Sole | 62.3% | 67.8% | 33.3% | ||
2. Major | 32.5% | 27.1% | 50% | ||
3. Subsidiary | 5.2% | 5.1% | 16.7% | ||
Mean of scale values | 1.43 b | 1.37 b | 1.83 a | <0.05 | 7.701 |
Arable as % of total farm income (% income) | n = 77 | n = 59 | n = 18 | ||
83.79 b | 91.56 a | 91.28 ab | <0.05 | 8.334 | |
Future Farming Intentions7 | n = 71 | n = 57 | n = 18 | ||
1. Yes | 97.2% | 100% | 94.4% | ||
2. No | 2.8% | 0% | 5.6% | ||
Mean of scale values | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.289 | 2.480 |
Grower Group | Statistical Parameters | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plough | Min-Till | Direct Drill | p1 | K-W 2 | |
General Innovation Adoption Preferences-abbreviated Options (1–4 scale): | n = 77 | n = 59 | n = 18 | ||
| 5.2% * | 22% | 50% | ||
| 39% | 57.6% | 50% | ||
| 28.6% | 16.9% | 0% | ||
| 27.3% | 3.4% | 0% | ||
Mean of scale values | 2.8 c | 2.0 b | 1.5 a | <0.001 | 39.571 |
Crop Establishment System Adoption Preferences (1–4 scale) | n = 77 | n = 59 | n = 18 | ||
| 0% | 10.2% | 33.3% | ||
| 10.4% | 42.4% | 55.6% | ||
| 45.5% | 39% | 11.1% | ||
| 44.2% | 8.5% | 0% | ||
Mean of scale values | 3.3 c | 2.5 b | 1.8 a | <0.001 | 58.112 |
Grower Groups | Statistical Parameters | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plough | Min-Till | Direct Drill | p1 | K-W 2 | |
Min-till requires a higher degree of management than ploughing (1–5 scale) | n = 77 | n = 59 | n = 17 | ||
| 3.9% * | 5.1% | 5.6% | ||
| 5.2% | 1.7% | 0% | ||
| 0% | 5.1% | 0% | ||
| 33.8% | 18.6% | 44.5% | ||
| 57.1% | 69.5% | 44.5% | ||
Mean of scale values | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 0.309 | 2.352 |
Direct drill requires a higher degree of management (1–5 scale) | n = 77 | n = 59 | n = 18 | ||
| 2.6% | 0% | 5.6% | ||
| 5.2% | 3.4% | 0% | ||
| 1.3% | 1.7% | 0% | ||
| 27.3% | 6.8% | 5.6% | ||
| 63.6% | 88.1% | 88.9% | ||
Mean of scale values | 4.4 b | 4.8 a | 4.7 ab | <0.01 | 11.776 |
Non-inversion systems need more research (1–5 scale) | n = 77 | n = 59 | n = 18 | ||
| 0% | 1.7% | 0% | ||
| 2.6% | 0% | 0% | ||
| 1.3% | 0% | 0% | ||
| 23.4% | 30.5% | 11.1% | ||
| 72.7% | 67.8% | 88.9% | ||
Mean of scale values | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 0.219 | 3.040 |
Non-inversion systems need improved extension (1–5 scale) | n = 70 | n = 59 | n = 18 | ||
| 20% | 15% | 0% | ||
| 17.1% | 8% | 0% | ||
| 0% | 7% | 0% | ||
| 28.6% | 31% | 22.2% | ||
| 34.3% | 39% | 77.8 | ||
Mean of scale values | 3.4 b | 3.7 b | 4.8 a | <0.01 | 13.299 |
More support is needed for non-inversion system adoption (1–5 scale) | n = 70 | n = 59 | n = 18 | ||
| 15.7% | 20.3% | 0% | ||
| 14.3% | 6.8% | 0% | ||
| 4.3% | 5.1% | 16.7% | ||
| 33% | 35.6% | 16.7% | ||
| 32.6% | 32.2% | 66.7% | ||
Mean of scale values | 3.5 b | 3.5 b | 4.5 a | <0.05 | 7.747 |
Grower Groups | Statistical Parameters | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plough | Min-Till | Direct Drill | p1 | K-W 2 | |
Question: Do we need to research and modify the detail of these systems to suit individual climates, yield potentials and growing systems? | n = 77 | n = 59 | n = 18 | ||
| 1.3% * | 0% | 11.1% | ||
| 1.3% | 0% | 0% | ||
| 19.5% | 32.2% | 27.8% | ||
| 77.9% | 67.8% | 61.1% | ||
Mean of scale values | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 0.214 | 3.089 |
Question: Do we need to research the individual components (e.g., cover crop aspects, cultivation aspects, rotation/species mix aspects) to understand where any benefits may come from? | n = 77 | n = 59 | n = 18 | ||
| 0% | 3.4% | 38.9% | ||
| 13% | 6.8% | 0% | ||
| 87% | 89.8% | 61.1% | ||
Mean of scale values | 2.9 b | 2.9 b | 2.2 a | <0.01 | 12.089 |
Information Source | % of Growers Who Had Information Source in Their Top 3 | Statistical Parameters | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plough (n = 77) | Min-Till (n = 59) | Direct Drill (n = 18) | p1 | 2 | |
Other Farmers | 74 | 71 | 72 | 0.933 | 0.138 |
Teagasc Advisory | 79 a | 51 b | 28 b | <0.001 | 21.823 |
Technical Journalists | 32 | 29 | 2 | 0.676 | 0.782 |
Co-op/Merchant | 35 a | 15 b | 11 ab | <0.05 | 9.071 |
Machinery Suppliers | 14 | 27 | 11 | 0.111 | 4.394 |
Irish Research | 26 a | 15 ab | 0 b | <0.05 | 7.240 |
BASE Ireland | 3 a | 17 b | 61 c | <0.001 | 39.624 |
International Research (exl. UK) | 4 a | 15 ab | 39 b | <0.001 | 17.27 |
Independent Consultant | 10 | 15 | 6 | 0.470 | 1.509 |
UK Research | 3 a | 20 b | 17 ab | <0.01 | 11.364 |
ITLUS | 6 | 10 | 6 | 0.680 | 0.770 |
Seed Company | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0.493 | 1.416 |
Chemical Company | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.363 | 2.026 |
Information Access Method | % of Growers Who Had Information Source in Their Top 3. | Statistical Parameters | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plough (n = 77) | Min-Till (n = 59) | Direct Drill (n = 18) | p1 | 2 | |
In-person Meeting with an Advisor/Other | 74 a | 69 a | 39 b | <0.05 | 8.379 |
Discussion Groups | 42 | 51 | 50 | 0.526 | 1.285 |
Open Days/Field Days | 44 | 51 | 22 | 0.101 | 4.583 |
Farm Magazines/Newspapers | 47 | 41 | 22 | 0.162 | 3.645 |
Research/Advice/Technical Websites * | 23 | 14 | 11 | 0.241 | 2.849 |
YouTube * | 13 | 19 | 22 | 0.516 | 1.324 |
Technical Papers/Conferences | 18 | 8 | 22 | 0.189 | 3.330 |
Facebook/Twitter/Instagram * | 9 | 14 | 28 | 0.104 | 4.536 |
WhatsApp Group * | 3 a | 7 a | 39 b | <0.001 | 25.203 |
Advisory Bulletins | 10 | 8 | 0 | 0.361 | 2.038 |
Online Farmer Forums * | 4 a | 5 a | 22 a | <0.05 | 8.382 |
Scientific Papers | 0 a | 0 a | 6 a | <0.05 | 7.605 |
Information Source | % of Growers Who Had Information Source in Their Top 3. | Statistical Parameters | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plough (n = 77) | Min-Till (n = 59) | Direct Drill (n = 18) | p1 | 2 | |
Teagasc Advisory | 82 a | 58 b | 28 c | <0.001 | 22.219 |
Co-op/Merchant | 73 a | 63 a | 11 b | <0.001 | 23.479 |
Other Farmers | 49 | 56 | 67 | 0.383 | 1.920 |
Irish Research | 21 | 31 | 22 | 0.413 | 1.767 |
Technical Journalists | 22 | 22 | 17 | 0.872 | 0.275 |
Independent Consultant | 19 | 24 | 17 | 0.750 | 0.576 |
BASE Ireland | 3 a | 14 b | 72 c | <0.001 | 55.811 |
Chemical Company | 8 | 8 | 11 | 0.901 | 0.208 |
International Research (exl. UK) | 3 a | 2 a | 33 b | <0.001 | 28.04 |
UK Research | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0.511 | 1.342 |
Seed Company | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0.493 | 1.416 |
ITLUS | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0.557 | 1.170 |
Machinery Suppliers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.557 | 1.170 |
Information Access Method | % of Growers Who Had Information Source in Their Top 3. | Statistical Parameters | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plough (n = 77) | Min-Till (n = 59) | Direct Drill (n = 18) | p1 | 2 | |
In-person Meeting with Advisor/Other | 84 a | 88 a | 44 b | <0.001 | 18.287 |
Discussion groups | 47 | 41 | 50 | 0.6973 | 0.72097 |
Open Days/Field Days | 49 | 42 | 22 | 0.1098 | 4.4185 |
Farm Magazines/Newspapers | 30 | 36 | 22 | 0.5298 | 1.2704 |
Research/Advice/Technical Websites * | 19 | 12 | 11 | 0.4101 | 1.7829 |
Advisory Bulletins | 16 | 19 | 6 | 0.4074 | 1.796 |
Technical Papers/Conferences | 13 | 17 | 17 | 0.7942 | 0.46087 |
WhatsApp Group * | 4 a | 12 a | 56 b | <0.001 | 34.561 |
Facebook/Twitter/Instagram * | 9 | 14 | 28 | 0.1035 | 4.5361 |
YouTube * | 4 | 5 | 17 | 0.1095 | 4.4243 |
Online Farms Forums * | 3 | 2 | 11 | 0.1288 | 4.0996 |
Scientific Papers | 0 a | 0 a | 11 a | <0.001 | 15.31 |
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Jameson, J.; McDonnell, K.; Alwarnaidu Vijayarajan, V.B.; Forristal, P.D. Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Adoption Preferences of Arable Growers in Ireland’s Atlantic-Influenced Climate. Sustainability 2024, 16, 1419. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16041419
Jameson J, McDonnell K, Alwarnaidu Vijayarajan VB, Forristal PD. Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Adoption Preferences of Arable Growers in Ireland’s Atlantic-Influenced Climate. Sustainability. 2024; 16(4):1419. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16041419
Chicago/Turabian StyleJameson, Jack, Kevin McDonnell, Vijaya Bhaskar Alwarnaidu Vijayarajan, and Patrick D. Forristal. 2024. "Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Adoption Preferences of Arable Growers in Ireland’s Atlantic-Influenced Climate" Sustainability 16, no. 4: 1419. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16041419