An overview of APSIM, a model designed for farming systems simulation

(1991). Soft Systems Methodology in Action. European Journal of Information Systems: Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 215-216.

https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1057%2Fejis.1991.37.pdf

Soft Systems Methodology in Action

http://homepages.see.leeds.ac.uk/~lecajd/papers/Reedetal2006.pdf

An adaptive learning process for developing and applying sustainability indicators with local communities

Evaluation of the environmental impact of agriculture at the farm level: a comparison and analysis of 12 indicator-based methods

http://bob-mccown.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/131_McCown2002Changing_systems_for-DS.pdf

Changing systems for supporting farmers' decisions: problems, paradigms, and prospects

In Australia, the work being carried out on sustainability indicators has become an industry on its own This paper firstly provides an introduction that reviews the literature on indicator development and use, particularly in relation to agricultural production systems A number of reasons for the limited use of indicators by farmers are mentioned Secondly, a focus group study involving farmers from two dryland cropping areas in Queensland to investigate sustainability indicators and sustainable farming systems is presented The indicators the participants identified during focus groups included indicators that reflect (i) farming system components, (ii) the management of these components, (iii) the management of all components and their interrelationships at the systems level, and (iv) the external factors that influence and interact with this systems level Focus group analysis also showed that the participants perceived sustainability as an on-going process and a sustainable farming system as dynamic and emergent in nature The implications of these findings are discussed Three key issues were raised (i) the value of farmer knowledge with respect to the development of indicators has often been ignored; (ii) there are links between indicators developed through traditional science and those being used by farmers; and (iii) off-farm indicators used by farmers may be very useful in policy development at a variety of levels (eg catchment, regional, national, global) The focus group method involving farmers provided a useful way to gain insights about farmer perceptions and for farmers to learn from each other during the research process

The sustainability indicator industry: where to from here? A focus group study to explore the potential of farmer participation in the development of indicators.

Purpose: This article outlines the development of extension as a discipline in Australia, its organization, and the ideological changes that have occurred from the second half of the nineteenth cen...

The many turnings of agricultural extension in Australia

Recommendations arising from an analysis of changes to the Australian agricultural research, development and extension system

The aim of this study was to understand the role that agricultural consultants in New Zealand were undertaking in the Research, Development and Extension (RD&E) system—and in particular in relation to environmental extension. New Zealand does not have a public extension service and hence there is a strong reliance on consultants and regional councils for environmental management information and advice. As they are independent of the formal RD&E system there is no guarantee that RD&E outcomes are reaching farmers, nor that effective environmental extension is occurring. The study used a combination of case studies, phone interviews with informed persons and a national web survey to explore the role of the consultant. The study found that agricultural consultants are playing an important role in working with farmers to improve agricultural production. There are, however, indications that gaps have developed over time between agricultural consultants and the agricultural research sector which limit ...

The Role of Agricultural Consultants in New Zealand in Environmental Extension

Introduction: This study was a pilot project responding to the increasing levels of stress, depression and other mental health issues in Australian rural areas resulting from prolonged drought and a changing economic and social environment. Methods: Thirty-two Advisory and Extension Agents (AEAs) attended a training course held in 2007 and 2008 in Queensland, Australia. A year after the training, data was collected to determine its value. Interviews were conducted with course participants and their supervisors and focus groups were held with stakeholders (farmers, agency staff and health professionals). Results: The findings show that Mental Health First Aid training improved the participants’ confidence level and their knowledge of mental health issues and increased their empathy toward persons with mental health problems. Furthermore, providing training on mental health issues to AEAs was perceived by stakeholders to be beneficial to both farmers and AEAs. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that stakeholders and course participants see this type of training as very much needed and highly beneficial. Further, providing training in mental health issues to rural service providers can be very beneficial to their farmer clients and their social network.

/pdf/value-of-mental-health-first-aid-training-of-advisory-and-178tklfdf8.pdf

Jeff Coutts

Papers

The sustainability indicator industry: where to from here? A focus group study to explore the potential of farmer participation in the development of indicators.

The many turnings of agricultural extension in Australia

Recommendations arising from an analysis of changes to the Australian agricultural research, development and extension system

The Role of Agricultural Consultants in New Zealand in Environmental Extension

Value of Mental Health First Aid training of Advisory and Extension Agents in supporting farmers in rural Queensland.