Whole farm case studies and focus groups: Participatory strategies for agricultural research and education programs

Abstract

Research and extension personnel are beginning to look for new strategies to involve more farmers and the non-farm public in their programs. Two approaches we have used are wholefarm case studies (WFCS) and focus groups. WFCS in Oregon and Washington led to several research and educational programming ideas that are currently being pursued in both states. A focus group to study water quality, nitrate leaching and farming practices in Skagit County, Washington is one outcome of the WFCS process. It is made up of 16 people, including farmers, university personnel, members of environmental groups, and government representatives.We review these two complementary participatory strategies for systems-oriented sustainable agriculture research and education programs. Both have been very useful for building problem-solving partnerships between the land-grant universities and agricultural and environmental constituents in our area. Noteworthy outcomes include: complementary applied on-farm and experiment station research; farming systems analysis; public education; new linkages with environmental and agricultural interest groups; additional grant funds to address identified priority issues; and interdisciplinary teams that cut across the biological and social sciences and include diverse citizen representation.

Innovative approaches for integrated research and educational programs

“…Case studies are common in business, economics, and medicine, and rely on qualitative information not achievVolume 9, Numbers 1 and 2,1994 able through controlled experiments. Agricultural case studies have been used, among other places, in interdisciplinary teaching programs at the University of Minnesota (Stanford et al, 1992), in the National Research Council's (1989) report Alternative Agriculture, and in a characterization of small fruit and vegetable farms in western Washington and Oregon (Murray and Butler, 1994).…”

Using focus groups to assess almond growers' plant nutrition information needs

“…The group atmosphere of focus groups may also be of benefit to researchers because it allows interviewees to compare their views to those of others, often leading them to voluntarily change their opinions to align behind well-informed interviewees, thus increasing the likelihood of reaching consensus10. This trend can also be a danger to researchers, however, because there is a possibility of individuals being dominated by others in focus group exercises10 , 11. The results of focus groups are easy to interpret and provide researchers with the opportunity to listen to diverse viewpoints and perspectives developed through open-ended discussion, rather than limiting stakeholders to providing only certain types of answers to questions, as may occur in a survey.…”