tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4227507713475561895.post2212281999963978099..comments2023-12-22T08:42:06.087+00:00Comments on Pasture to Profit: Really Important to have Social Scientists Working in AgriculturePasture to Profithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09918321236101650313noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4227507713475561895.post-19288226580852321912013-01-26T11:14:23.424+00:002013-01-26T11:14:23.424+00:00Thanks for great information you write it very cle...Thanks for great information you write it very clean. I am very lucky to get this tips from you(trip to newzealand)<br />Atlantic Developmenthttp://www.cumberlandharbourga.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4227507713475561895.post-75891190718765679652013-01-05T07:28:11.989+00:002013-01-05T07:28:11.989+00:00Wish You happy new year to you and your family ..R...Wish You happy new year to you and your family ..Really nice place to visit ..New Zealand..Play angry Birdshttp://www.parksonsgames.com/abtradingcards/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4227507713475561895.post-81535377211535500792012-12-16T21:45:31.762+00:002012-12-16T21:45:31.762+00:00Thanks Tom, an interesting read. Are proceedings/p...Thanks Tom, an interesting read. Are proceedings/papers/presentations from the conference available? If not, will they be?<br /><br />You'll be pleased to hear that Beef + Lamb New Zealand has and is working with social scientists in our planning and delivery, and there are plans afoot for even more work in that area. I think this includes social science research as well.<br /><br />As a result, I dont think your comments "NZ research & extension is totally focussed on profit & increased output", "Farmers are being seen as adopters not as originators of knowledge" and "Farmers ... are largely ignored by extension & research" are fair or applicable to the work Beef + Lamb New Zealand are doing.<br /><br />Our purpose, in my view, is 'Behaviour Change to Increase Farmer Satisfaction', with the behaviour change work occuring at all points along the pasture to plate journey.<br /><br />Farmer satisfaction as I see it broadly consists of 3 areas: Financial returns, Family and 'Fun', for want of a better word. Profit isn't everything, as the ARGOS work reinforces, although it certainly makes family and fun easier!<br /><br />Beef + Lamb New Zealand is also focussed on the 3 'legs' of sustainability: financial, social, environmental. A lot of our investment on behalf of sheep and beef farmers is not about just or always about the bottom line. A significant amount goes into making things easier or more enjoyable as well.<br /><br />In addition, especially since the formation of Beef + Lamb New Zealand, we have made a huge effort to drive our research and 'technology transfer' from the ground up. Each region has its own 'Farmer Council' of bona-fide farmers, and we've given them a large degree of autonomy. They work by forming strong connections with farmers and others in their neighbourhood. Each region develops, implements and monitors their own Region Delivery Plan, in conjunction with their Director, staff and peers. Delivery is then overseen by local steering groups. A big focus is on-farm 'innovation' - who has good ideas, how do we get others to see/hear/experience those onfarm innovations. As well as interesting things coming out from our research (which is turn is often exploring/expanding ideas thrown up from something someone tried on a farm).<br /><br />No doubt in the past there was a lot of top-down/'farmers as passive recipients' in tech transfer in sheep and beef; but as importantly, there is no doubt this has been largely overturned. Happy to catch up and go over what we do, and how we could improve, in more detail some time.<br /><br />Aaron Meikle<br />Extension Manager<br />Central South Island<br />Beef + Lamb New ZealandAaron Meiklehttp://www.beeflambnz.comnoreply@blogger.com