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Publication Open Access Computer use and attitudes for a sample of Canterbury, New Zealand dairy farmers(Lincoln University. Farm and Horticultural Management Group., 2001-07) Alvarez, Jorge; Nuthall, Peter L.With the objective of collecting data for assessing research hypotheses about information management, a mail survey was carried out on Canterbury dairy farmers between July and August of 2000. From a total of 537 questionnaires sent, 300 were received, resulting in 290 usable responses. This report describes the average farm, farm sizes, the manager's dairy farming experience and age, tenancy, education, management teams, non-family people giving a reasonable input into farm decision making, farm office equipment used, computer use, software utilisation, information sources, internet use, farmer goals, and farmer opinions about information management. While almost three quarters of the farmers own a computer, 61% are using computerised systems to manage farm information. Financial management was the most common use of computers with 54.48% of the farmers using them in this way, followed by the livestock area with 35.17%, while only 16.9% of the farmers were using software to support their feed management. Farmers using computerised systems were younger, more educated, and more profit oriented than non-users. This group managed bigger farms, they have been farming less time both in Canterbury and in total, and they also used farm advisers more extensively in their decision making, and they spent more time doing office work.Publication Open Access Computers and information management in Canterbury dairy farming(Lincoln University. Farm and Horticultural Management Group, 2001-07) Alvarez, Jorge; Nuthall, Peter L.For providing systems to support decision making it is important to understand how farmers collect and manage decision information. Using data from a mail survey a ""three-information-area"" and ""four-system-type"" model was tested to describe Canterbury dairy farmer's information management structure. Those using computerised systems in every area were the largest group, but representing only 12% of farmers. Farmers using computerised systems in different information areas show similar characteristics in contrast to non-users, such as having farmed less years, being younger, having larger herds and bigger farms, being more educated, spending more time doing office work, involving more both farm adviser and accountant time, and being more profit oriented. Those who own computers, but do not use computerised information systems, are not statistically different from those not owning computers. The use of computers for managing feed and pasture information seems to be more restricted than for finance and livestock. The relationships among farm management computer use and the farmer's characteristics were checked using single statistical tests, regression and cluster analyses. The research findings are relevant for those aiming to improve farmer information management and also for farm software developers.Publication Open Access The relationships between computer use and Canterbury dairy farmers' goals, personality traits and learning styles(Lincoln University. Farm and Horticultural Management Group, 2001) Alvarez, J.; Nuthall, Peter L.To help explain dairy farmers' use of software in managing farm information, farmers' goals, personality traits and Kolb's learning styles were included as independent variables in a model. The relationships were tested against on-farm computerised information system (CIS) use and other related variables. Relationships were in fact identified, using both direct and indirect correlation, between farmer's psychological characteristics and their computer related behaviour. Furthermore, cluster analysis was used to find a complex relationship indicating computerised information system use seems to be related to abstract conceptualisation, two psychological profiles, introspection and extroversion, and a preference to follow management principles. On the other hand, a high scoring in ""concrete experience"" may be related to a delay in CIS adoption. These findings will help in assisting farmers, especially those who want to improve their information systems, decide on their personal computer aptitude.Publication Open Access Canterbury dairy farmers' opinions about using computerised farm information systems(Lincoln University. Farm and Horticultural Management Group, 2001-07) Alvarez, Jorge; Nuthall, Peter L.Canterbury dairy farmers' opinions about computerised systems used for managing farm information were collected through 39 stratified, randomly selected interviews. Farmers who are using software note they can save time, the software supports their farm management work, and it also enables them to use management approaches requiring more detailed information. Farmers who are not using computerised systems, but are considering this possibility, explain they are facing other priorities relative to improving their information systems. They are aware of the computer and software advantages, and they have a positive feeling towards computing technology. Some of them, however, feel insecure about their ability to use computers. Farmers not considering computerised systems believe computer technology is useless for their particular situations. Some farmers think computerised systems are unable to solve their actual farm problems, others feel themselves too old to learn the new technology. The interviews have confirmed ""earlier"" findings from a former mail survey. Key factors associated with the adoption of computer technology are farmer age, directly and through its relationship with farmer education; farmer education itself; the size of the herd; and consultant use intensity and involvement in farm management decision making.Publication Open Access An analysis of the feasibility of using image processing to estimate the live weight of sheep(Lincoln University. Farm and Horticultural Management Group., 2004-06) Burke, Jonathan A.; Nuthall, Peter L.; McKinnon, Alan E.One of the difficulties in successfully managing the supply and use of animal feed in sheep farming is in knowing the live weight of the sheep in the various mobs a farmer may be using. Most farmers make intuitive estimates of whether their sheep are increasing, maintaining or losing weight. A few farmers will weigh samples from the mobs, but this is an expensive and tedious operation, and consequently not carried out very often. If an inexpensive and simple method could be devised for quickly obtaining the average live weight of a mob of sheep this would markedly aid their successful management. This discussion paper contains outlines of the various methods that might be used as well as the problems with each method. There are also discussions covering the efforts made, as explained in the literature, for use in estimating the live weight of other species. This provides a means of generating ideas. The discussion paper concludes with recommendations on what appear to be the most promising approaches that might be further investigated. If such a system could be devised there is no doubt many farmers around the world would utilise it to assist in the management of their feed supplies, and consequently improve the efficient production of meat and wool.Publication Open Access Dairy farmers as employers in Canterbury(Lincoln University. Farm and Horticultural Management Group, 2004-03) Verwoerd, N.; Tipples, Rupert S.This study establishes base data and determines the actual staff management practices followed by a sample of dairy farmers in Canterbury. A person-centred approach was followed in which respondents were simply asked what they were doing and why, so as to find out what is actually happening on farms in terms of managing staff and the management tools used. At the same time, an effort was made to understand the farmer as a person: a unique individual who makes choices based on his personality, values and circumstances.Publication Open Access Determinants of farmland prices in a dynamic error correction form : a New Zealand case(Lincoln University. Farm and Horticultural Management Group, 1999-07) Dhungana, Basanta R.; Ward, Bert D.; Nartea, GilbertThis paper examines the effect of real net farm residual income, inflation, and the real interest rate on the movement of real farmland prices during 1970 to 1997 using a parsimonious error correction model. The empirical evidence suggests that the long run trend in the real land price can be explained by real net farm residual income to land and the real interest rate, with inflation having no statistically signifcant effect. However, the growth in the real interest rate explains about two thirds of the growth in land prices in the immediate to short-run.Publication Open Access Factors affecting Canterbury, New Zealand farmers' adoption and use of computerised information systems(Lincoln University. Farm and Horticultural Management Group, 2001-07) Alvarez, J.; Nuthall, Peter L.The aim of this study is to identify which factors have operated as adoption barriers to information innovations (computerised systems) in Canterbury (New Zeeland) daily farming. This study is a attempt to link the farm management information system development process with the characteristics that may affect farmer information adoption, and their successful use. Firstly, the research problem is briefly presented, then, two sets of hypotheses are stated, and the research method is described. Secondly, the results are presented and discussed, and finally some conclusions are presented.Publication Open Access Factors affecting farmer adoption and use of computerised information systems : a case study of Florida, Uruguay, dairy farming(Lincoln University. Farm and Horticultural Management Group., 2001-11) Alvarez, Jorge; Nuthall, Peter L.With the objective of collecting data for assessing research hypotheses about information management, a survey was carried out on Florida, Uruguay dairy farmers between October and November of 2000. A total of 61 farmers were interviewed and asked to fill a survey questionnaire and three psychological test forms. While more than a quarter of the farmers own a computer, 17% are using computerised systems to manage farm information. Livestock management was the most common use of computers with 15% of the farmers using them in this way, followed by the finance area with 5%, while no farmers were using software to support their feed management. Farmers using computerised systems were more educated, and more "success in farming"" oriented than non-users. This group managed bigger farms, and they spent more time doing ofice work. Unwillingness to use computerised systems can be explained according to the farmer's computer technology alienation feelings (""knowledge gap""), incompatible information management skills, and poor economic benefit perceptions. The first two factors may reflect farmers' learning and problem solving styles being incompatible with computerised systems, which may originate from the interaction of basic personality traits and the educational and life process (family and community environment). Given certain learning and problem solving styles, farmers may form positive or negative economic benefit perceptions. The size of the farm, among other farm variables, clearly influences this perception through both the economies of scale of software use, and the scale of the management work. The lack of (computer) operational skills can delay sofiare adoption, but can be removed through training if the above factors support a positive attitude toward computerised system use. If feasible, actions promoting information technology change should focus on building farmer information management skills, and in making available knowledge relevant to developing positive economic benefit perceptions, assuming they exist. Advisors can play a significant role in this process. An additional strategy, particularly where non-users not considering the use of computerised systems represent important segments in the farming community, is the development of information management tools more compatible with these farmers' current information systems.Publication Open Access Input use inefficiencies in the production of sugar cane in Central Negros Area, Philippines : an application of data envelopment analysis(Lincoln University. Farm and Horticultural Management Group, 2001-08) Padilla-Fernandez, M. D.; Nuthall, Peter L.This research attempts to identify sources of input use inefficiency for sugar cane production in the Central Negros area, The Philippines. Non-parametric Data Envelopment Analysis was used to determine the relative technical, scale, overall technical, allocative and economic efficiencies of individual farms which use the same inputs and produce the same raw material (cane) and output (sugar). Under a specification of variable returns to scale (VRS), the mean pure technical, scale, overall technical, allocative and economic efficiency indices were 0.7580, 0.9884, 0.7298, 0.7941 and 0.6025. lnput use differences between the purely technical efficient and inefficient farms is statistically different for area, seeds and labour inputs. There was no significant variation in the use of fertiliser and power inputs. For the overall technically efficient and inefficient farms, use of seeds and NPK fertiliser were statistically different. Apart from the lower amount of seeds, fertiliser and power used, the larger profit obtained by the economically efficient farms was due to the lower price paid for each input except labour. The productive efficiency of small, medium and large farms were also determined. Small farms appeared to be economically inefficient compared to the large ones while medium and large farms appeared to be equally economically efficient. Analysis of input use differences among farm size class shows that the higher input usage by the large farms tends to increase the quantity produced and with the low price of inputs, generates a larger profit per hectare. The higher input prices faced by the small farmers tends to reduce the amount of input used thus giving a lower profit. Thus, part of the allocative efficiency differences between the farm size groups may be attributed to the differences in the input price, resulting from market power.Publication Open Access Farmers' goals and efficiency in the production of sugar cane : the Philippine case(Lincoln University. Farm and Horticultural Management Group, 2001-08) Padilla-Fernandez, M. D.; Nuthall, Peter L.This research evaluated the link between Philippine Sugar cane farmers' goals, values and attitudes (and some selected efficiency-related variables) with production efficiency. The analysis was based on both information from informal interviews and formal primary data collection. The Data Envelopment Analysis technique was used to determine the relative efficiencies of individual farmers and to identify the major factors that influence the efficiency of production. Pure technical, scale, overall technical, allocative and economic efficiency measures were derived for the sample of sugar cane farmers from the Central Negros area, The Philippines. Under the specification of variable returns to scale (VRS), the mean pure technical, scale, overall technical, allocative and economic efficiency indices were 0.7580, 0.9884, 0.7298, 0.7941 and 0.6025, respectively. The farmers' characteristics and their associations with goals and attitudes were determined. The result shows that 'per cent of land owned' is correlated with farmers' decision-making and thus their production efficiency. The study was unique in that it incorporated the farmers' values and attitudes towards farming and production efficiency. The Bootstrap regression method was used to determine the factors affecting the variations in farmers' efficiency. Factors positively associated with production efficiency include farm experience, exposure to extension and off-farm work; for goals and attitudes - the intrinsic independence goal, the instrumental aspects of farming, leisure orientation, optimistic attitude, and risk consciousness were all associated with efficiency. The key policy options that must be considered for addressing inefficiencies include education and extension advice, developing the importance of the instrumental aspects of farming, developing group (block) farming as well as farmers' and millers' cooperatives, improved access to credit and improved technology (with emphasis on soil and fertiliser management and the use of improved varieties).Publication Open Access Women’s employment and its impact on life in a Fijian village(Lincoln University. Farm and Horticultural Management Group, 1999-04) Hewitt, Philip R.; Nuthall, Peter L.Men have often been significant beneficiaries of development interventions. This has stemmed from increasing the economic strength of the target population. In the 1990's there has been a shift by development agencies to a more equitable focus where a better quality of life for everyone in a household is more often the target. Because men have predominantly held the recognised income earning role in the household, increases in employment opportunities resulting from development intervention tend to leave women to take on the work previously carried out by the men. This increases an already heavy workload for women. The village of Natokalau, on the island of Ovalau in Fiji, is faced with a different situation. Here, many of the women have gained employment in a fish canning factory. This leaves some of the household and child-care duties formerly carried out by the women to the men of the village. This study reports on the results of studying this village to ascertain the effects of womens' employment.Publication Open Access Organic farming in Thailand : case studies on fruit and flower production in Chiangmai, Thailand(Lincoln University. Farm and Horticultural Management Group, 2002-06) Dechachete, T.; Nuthall, Peter L.The purpose of this study was to examine organic horticultural production in Chiangmai, Thailand, through discovering the farmers' objectives, economic performance, as well as elucidating other impacts including social and environmental effects. Interviews and available data were used to gather information from the people in three villages which were selected as case studies. Forty-five farmers from three categories, chemical-free vegetable farming (CFA), mixed agriculture (MA) and conventional agriculture (CA), were interviewed. The 'chemical-free' farming (CFA) was not strictly totally chemical-free, but the intention is to minimise artificial chemical use. The study found that profit maximisation was the first priority in all production categories. Lower CFA production costs were also a reason for farmers to move away from CA. Few farmers seriously realised the social and environmental impacts caused by conventional farming. However, CFA farmers tended to be more concerned about their health and environment than CA farmers. The economic comparisons indicated that the running costs of CFA farming were less than the running costs of CA farming. The economic and the social cost comparison results varied among the research sites. It could not be concluded that the economic and the social costs of CFA farming were less than for CA farming. Nor could it be concluded that CFA farming gains a higher net farm income than CA farming. However, the study suggested that the net farm income of the CFA farms was greater when the CFA farmers could sell their produce at a reasonable price. In one research site, the negative social net farm income finding indicated that the government CFA promotion project had failed. Social comparisons between CFA and CA methods showed CFA results in education and health benefits in comparison to conventional agriculture. Finally, the environmental comparisons found that CFA had beneficial impacts on the farm environment. The farmers realised that the use of artificial agricultural chemicals resulted in decreases in local wildlife quantity and variety, and they actually noted that CFA seemed to have positive effects on these variables.Publication Open Access Off-farm investment in financial assets as a risk response for New Zealand sheep and beef farms(Lincoln University. Farm and Horticultural Management Group, 1999-12) Nartea, Gilbert; Pellegrino, JuanOff-farm investment as a risk management strategy is not particularly popular among New Zealand sheep and beef farmers. This study explores the potential reduction in risk by diversifying farm asset portfolios to include financial investments. Portfolio analysis revealed that the negative correlation between rates of return on farm assets and shares found in the study could result in a risk reduction of as much as 20% by converting 16 to 25% of the farm investment portfolio into shares. These findings indicate that off- farm investment could be an important risk response for farmers.Publication Open Access The demise of the farm labourer and the rise of the food technologist : a century of radical change in farm employment, 1900-1999(Lincoln University. Farm and Horticultural Management Group, 1999-07) Tipples, Rupert S.This paper reviews changes in farm employment over the 20th Century by viewing farm work as it was around 1900 and how it is appearing to be by 1999 through the eyes of contemporary observers. Then changes in work and employment are considered under the following headings: The Role of Government, the Labour Force, Production, Mechanisation, Pest Control, Transport, Communications, Marketing, Education, and Employment Relations. The paper concludes that while much farm work has increasing technological demands, at the same time much also retains its laborious nature.Publication Open Access Managing welfare improvement for the urban poor : a case study from Bangkok, Thailand(Lincoln University. Farm and Horticultural Management Group, 2001-10) Kananurak, Chaninaat; Nuthall, Peter L.The purpose of this study was to investigate how the urban poor community dwellers in Bangkok manage their own development projects through community schemes. The main objectives were to explore the needs of the poor, the management constraints, opinions on the successfulness of the schemes, the possibility for their sustainability, and to obtain suggestions for improved methods. There were three groups of respondents to the questionnaires used: the community dwellers, the scheme (project) committee members, and two officers of supporting organisations (NGOs). The numbers involved were 135 community dwellers and 14 committee members as well as the two organisational officers. The results showed that the community dwellers did not in general participate in project preparation, design and implementation with the main barrier being their poverty which required them to spend all their time earning. However, most were satisfied with the intentions of the project committees and noted that the Social Investment Fund (the funding scheme) would reduce their poverty if the project committees could continue the work started and increase the amount of the loans. The committee members are the social capital of the community and were supported by the co-ordinating organisational officers. However, the committee could not use full participatory approaches due to insufficient time, but the members did participate in all stages of the project cycle: preparation, design and implementation. This experience will assist the locals in working for their community in the longer run. Committee members and the organisational officers agreed that the SIF project was effective in bringing about social cohesion and mutual support. The project should be sustainable through its revolving fund even though it includes the poorest people as beneficiaries. A successful outcome will not be seen in the short run as effects of factors such as enhanced education take many years and will depend on the continuing access to credit. The final evaluation will need to be carried out after the project has been in operation for several years.Publication Open Access New Zealand farm computer users : their maturing attitudes and characteristics(Lincoln University. Farm and Horticultural Management Group, 2001-03) Nuthall, Peter L.; Benbow, C.On-farm computing is increasingly becoming an integral part of farm decision systems. To aid the development of appropriate systems and their efficient use it is important to understand the changing farm computing scene. The study reported here contributes to these objectives in the New Zealand case. The situation is likely to be similar to other western countries. The basis of the study was data from a postal survey over summer 1997/98, together with the results from previous similar surveys. The postal survey of 3,021 randomly selected New Zealand primary producers enabled exploring the penetration of on-farm computers and details of their use. The response rate (49.5 %) was exceptional with 1,437 valid replies being received by the mid-April 1998 cut-off date. Computer penetration was 42.72% of the sample compared with 6% in 1986 and 24.40% in 1993. The comguter farms tend to be larger than non-computer farms, the managers tend to have higher levels of formal education, they tend to be younger, and they tend to be involved in more off-farm businesses. From ownership/intended ownership details it appears the uptake rate is probably at a maximum. Computer use is around 20 hours per month with word processing, financial recording and analysis as well as financial budgeting continuing to be the important uses. The farm manager and his or her spouse are the main business use operators (78.5%). Most users (89%) believe a comguter is an economic investment. Of increasing importance is the use of the Internet with some 3 hours/month spent on Intemet access and communication. Currently 28% of computer users have a connection, but a further 40% indicate they will connect in the next two years. E-mail is the main use of the Internet but entertainment and fun as well as technical information gathering are important uses. Some 47% believe the Internet is valuable or better with 37% still being neutral or undecided. Generally, there are few differences when the data is divided by farm type, suggesting most managers view a computer similarly for all production types. Of major significance is the conclusion that computer owners and non-owners are not inherently different in their objectives. While further work on a wider range of variables is necessary, this suggests training programmes and software need not be markedly different for each group.Publication Open Access Water and livelihoods : a participatory analysis of a Mexican rural community(Lincoln University. Farm and Horticultural Management Group., 2000-12) Pérez Izadi, N. T.; Cahn, MirandaOver 70% of Mexican farms produce only for self subsistence and lack the necessary economies of scale to be commercial. In the arid and semi-arid regions of the country, which represents 52% of Mexico's total land, farming is difficult and poverty is common. These zones are distinguished by a low level of public investment, scarce official support, lack of inter-institutional coordination and non-existence of an integrated policy for development. Whether development has occurred as a result of the diverse range of projects and programmes is uncertain. Participatory research, was used to evaluate the effect of the project 'Water and Life' on the development of the rural community of San Felipe (situated in the semi-arid region of Mexico). The research sought to determine whether the community of San Felipe is sustainable by exploring the processes by which people achieve (or fail to achieve) sustainable livelihoods. Also the research evaluated whether the project 'Water and Life' assisted in the process of achieving sustainable livelihoods in San Felipe. Lessons learnt for future development endeavours are derived from the study. Through the use of PRA techniques, research revealed that the community of San Felipe is very vulnerable and cannot secure enough food for its inhabitants. The project 'Water and Life' has brought about positive changes to the community, one of its major achievements has been to provide the community with three rainwater harvesting systems with a storage capacity of approximately 1.2 million L. However, the project has only partially satisfied the needs of the community and the project has not reduced the vulnerability of the community markedly. Moreover, food security is still an unattainable goal for the community and the benefits of the project are likely to disappear in 25 or 30 years. Research identified opportunities for San Felipe to improve its livelihood sustainability by better management of its valuable natural resources. In addition, improved participation of women in decision-making, increased coordination of formal groups of the community and the training of women and youth could significantly reduce the vulnerability of San Felipe if addressed by the project 'Water and Life' and the community.Publication Open Access A note on the profitability of dairy farms in selected areas of Bangladesh : a comparison with New Zealand dairy farms(Lincoln University. Farm and Horticultural Management Group, 1999-05) Alam, J.; Nartea, Gilbert; Sarker, M. A.This study determines the profitability of commercial mini-dairy farms in selected areas of Bangladesh using New Zealand financial and production figures as benchmarks. Based on production returns Bangladeshi (BD) dairy farms do not appear to be particularly profitable in spite of the relatively high domestic milkprice. To be a truly profitable venture, it is suggested that BD dairy farms should aim at improving their productivity through the use of improved breeds, feeding, health care and management.Publication Open Access Objectives, subsistence and farm development: the case of Tonga(Lincoln University. Farm and Horticultural Management Group., 2001-04) Fakava, V. T.; Nuthall, Peter L.; Nartea, GilbertSmallholder production is the main mode of agricultural production in Tonga. This report assesses the current practices with consideration to the farmers' attitudes, their traditional social institutions, cultural values and the effect this has on production. An independent village survey was used as the main source of primary data for this study. Analysis of agricultural performance and critiques of Tongan government policies toward agriculture not only identified the constraints on agricultural production but also indicated farmers' likely responses to policy changes. The modelled effects of different policy measures confirms that market development instruments, improved technologies and increasing farmer motivation can have a substantial and positive impact on farm revenue and commercial development. Based on the findings from this study, given appropriate types of improved technology, supportive agricultural policies (research and extension, market, land tenure, education, etc), and appropriate incentives, smallholder farmers can simultaneously pursue the goals of increasing national agricultural production and securing increased rural welfare.