Abstract
Most mixed farms in Australia are family run, and so the goals of the family and of the farm are closely inter-related. This chapter describes and discusses social factors which influence decisions made on mixed farms with particular reference to the influence of drought. Decision making on mixed farms is an extremely complex process as many factors must be taken into account, some factors are difficult to quantify and uncertain variables such as climate and commodity prices are important. The factors influencing changes to the farming system and the influence of drought on changing the system are discussed. Some implications for research and extension are described. Two social research projects contribute to the chapter: the Grain and Graze Social Research project and the BCG—Critical Breaking Point research into effects of drought on farming families.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Grain and Graze is run by Meat and Livestock Australia, Grain Research and Development Corporation, Australian Wool Innovation and Land and Water Australia. http://www.grainandgraze.com.au/
- 2.
The social research project of ‘Grain and Graze’ involved 1–1.5 h, in-person interviews with 80 farming families and 20 advisors based in 9 regions between February 2006 and February 2007. Interviewees were chosen using a combination of random sampling and snow-balling (Bryman 2004). Detailed notes of the interviews were analysed systematically and iteratively for their key themes.
- 3.
In the ‘Critical Breaking Point?’ project, 60 farmers and their families were randomly selected from across the Wimmera Southern Mallee region. Interviewees were not screened to select only those ‘badly affected’ by the drought, but included those who felt they have been only negligibly affected. Each interview was semi-structured and lasted on average 2 h, with the shortest being approximately 1 h and the longest being over 4 h. Interviews were fully transcribed and, in conjunction with the handwritten interview notes, were analysed systematically by working through them and building a progressive code of key themes. These themes were then mapped in mind maps and tables, based on a grounded theory approach that prioritises data-driven and inductive conclusions (Alvesson and Skoldberg 2000; Glaser and Strauss 1967; Glaser 1993). In keeping with this methodology, themes were re-tested against transcripts in an iterative process until the key findings emerged.
A key to this research was using local interviewers. This not only helped to illicit more insightful information, but provided the interviewers with listening and research skills they can use elsewhere, including in further research in their community. Four suitable, local people were recruited for the task with the assistance of BCG. They signed a contract with BCG including a confidentiality clause and were remunerated for their work. Interviewers were trained intensively in qualitative research and interview technique, were accompanied on their first interviews, and were debriefed during and at the completion of the interview process.
The first phase of this research was conducted over a 2-week period in February 2007. A second phase of interviews was conducted, 6 months after the original interviews. This phase is based on a sub-sample of 20 families from the original 60, which is skewed towards younger and older farming families to follow up issues specific to them that were highlighted during the first phase.
- 4.
It is important to realise that, as Vanclay (2004) argues, ‘barriers to adoption’ is an implicitly arrogant idea that denies the fact that from an individual’s perspective, all of their decisions are made for legitimate reasons, even if those reasons are poorly understood by others.
References
Alvesson M, Skoldberg K (2000) Reflexive methodology: new vistas for qualitative research. Sage, London
Birchip Cropping Group (2007) Critical breaking point? The effects of drought and other pressures on farming families. A report prepared by L. Rickards of RMCG for the Birchip Cropping Group, Birchip. http://www.bcg.org.au
Bryman A (2004) Social research methods, 2nd edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Davidson BR (1981) European farming in Australia – an economic history of Australian farming. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Glaser B (ed) (1993) Examples of grounded theory. Sociology Press, Mill Valley
Glaser B, Strauss A (1967) The discovery of grounded theory: strategies for qualitative research. Aldine, Chicago
McGuckian N (2006) Social dimensions of managing mixed farming systems, grain & graze discussion papers Nov 06. http://www.grainandgraze.com.au/library/scripts/objectifyMedia.aspx?file=pdf/82/74_OnlinePDF.pdf&siteID=11&str_title=Grain & Graze Discussion Papers Nov 06_OnlinePDF.pdf
Pannell DJ, Marshall GR, Barr N, Curtis A, Vanclay F, Wilkinson R (2006) Understanding and promoting adoption of conservation practices by rural landholders. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46:1407–1424
Snowden DJ (2003) Managing for serendipity or why we should lay off “best practice” in KM. ARM Knowl Manage 6:8
Vanclay F (2004) Social principles for agricultural extension to assist in the promotion of natural resource management. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 44:213–222
Wimmera Development Association (2007) State of the Wimmera Southern Mallee Region Report. A report prepared by RMCG for the Wimmera Development Association and the Rural Development Victoria section of the Victorian State Government, Melbourne
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
McGuckian, N., Rickards, L. (2011). The Social Dimensions of Mixed Farming Systems. In: Tow, P., Cooper, I., Partridge, I., Birch, C. (eds) Rainfed Farming Systems. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9132-2_30
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9132-2_30
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-9131-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-9132-2
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)