This descriptive and analytic study used a secondary data set to describe and compare medication use and agricultural injury experiences between younger (≤54 years old) and older (≥55 years old) farmers; and to examine the relationship between the use of specific classes of medication and reported agricultural injury. The study sample included a total of 316 farmers, age 26 to 80 years old; 103 older farmers (33%), and 210 younger farmers (66%). This cohort of farmers sustained a total of 318 nonfatal agricultural injuries. No statistical difference was found in the mean number of injuries sustained by older and younger farmers. The injury rate for the whole cohort of farmers was 41.95 injuries/100 years; older farmers' injury rate was 38.35 injuries/100 person-years, while younger farmers' was 44.01 injuries/100 person-years. Older farmers were more likely to report taking a medication than the younger farmers (OR: 3.08; 95% CI: 1.94-4.92). Older farmers had statistically significant greater odds of reporting the use of several medication classes/subclasses than the younger farmers, including: hormones; cardiac medications such as: ACE inhibitors, blood pressure medications, alpha blockers, and beta blockers, and finally central nervous system medications such as pain medications. Older farmers were also found to report taking more medications than younger farmers. Multiple logistic regression analysis using GEE was used to examine the association between using specific classes of medication and agricultural injury, taking into consideration a myriad of confounding factors. Agricultural work exposures associated with injury included noise (OR 1.39, 95% CI: 1.02-1.90), chemical/pesticide use (OR 1.88, 95% CI: 1.39-2.55), heavy lifting (1.55, 95% CI: 1.06-2.28) and raising livestock (OR 1.49, 95% CI: 1.08-2.06). Medication classes significantly associated with an increased risk for agricultural injury included taking two different types of heart medications: beta blockers (OR 2.30, 95% CI: 1.07-4.97) and ACE inhibitors (OR 2.72, 95% CI: 1.15-6.46). Farmers taking a blood formation/coagulation medication were found to have less risk of injury (OR 0.50, 95% CI: 0.28-0.93) than those not on a blood formation/coagulation medication. When exploring the issue of polypharmacy, no medication interactions were found to be significant. Yet, the number of cardiac medications taken per quarter was found to be statistically significant. The odds of nonfatal agricultural injury were lower with the use of more than one cardiac medication (OR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.13-.0.94) compared to a farmer taking no cardiac medications. Health conditions related to agricultural injury included depression and several interaction terms between taking medication and general health status. Farmers reporting their depression level as medium had a lower risk for nonfatal agricultural injury (OR 0.71, 95% CI: 0.53-0.95) compared to farmers reporting their depression as being low. Finally, several interactions between taking medication and general health status were statistically significant. These interactions illuminate two trends: 1) farmers in excellent/very good/good health have lower odds of injury if they are not taking medication versus if they did take medication, and 2) farmers with poor health have decreased odds of injury if they took mediation versus if they did not take medication. This research contributes to the limited knowledge base regarding medication use and agricultural injury by identifying classes and subclasses of medications that are associated with nonfatal agricultural injury, as well as identifying an important interaction between general health status and medication use in regards to nonfatal agricultural injury.

No description available.

This study represents an attempt by a distance educator at CB Alexander Agricultural College to find ways of improving the quality of its farm management distance education program. It describes an action research project in which the Principal Investigator and his co-researchers - a group of students enrolled in the Farm Management Certificate Course - simulate a distance education process as a springboard into collaborative and critical reflection. The study describes the present operations of the NSW Agriculture Farm Management Certificate Course and gives a critical overview of the current approach to course development. It draws on relevant professional literature to provide a theoretical basis for its critique of the curriculum. It asks whether inclusion of an epistemological development variable in course design could help the College more closely meet the needs of its clients. Rising out of this critique of existing practice, the thesis charts a quest by co-researchers for growth in understanding, by critical self-reflection, through dialogue. It proposes a theory of open system inquiry as a tool to help curriculum developers, distance educators and all aspiring open system learners to develop a personal praxis of open system inquiry in their vocations and in their lives. / Master of Science (Hons)

This study describes how farmers manage climate variability in dryland crop production, and aims to contribute to the theory and practice of decision support for managing climate variability. The intent was to study farmer decision making to see how DSS could be used to deliver information and procedures on climate risk to farmers more effectively. The study investigated whether there are significant differences between farmers' subjective distributions of seasonal rainfall and its derivatives (such as crop yield and fallow recharge) and a probability distribution derived from long-term records and simulation models, and whether these differences in risk assessment lead to changes in the optimum decision. Subjective probability distributions of rainfall and its derivatives were collected from farmers and advisers and it was found the overall match between these and long term records and simulation models was close. This study found little evidence to support the role of DSS for routine decision making, but this does not lessen the value of distributions derived from simulation models. Rather, it provides an opportunity for both farmers and scientists to learn. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Agricultural industries play a key role in promoting the economic prosperity and growth of Tongan society. Agricultural exports, such as the pumpkin industry, receive foreign exchange to pay for the imports. This project aims to develop an understanding of the problems involved in exporting pumpkins from Tonga to the Japanese rice market. It also aims, as an action research project, to increase the understanding of the problem owners in order to improve the operation of the industry. The inquiry explores the perceived problems and concerns of all parties involved in the development of the industry including the exporters, farmers, government departments and the Tongan Development Bank as well as the Japanese pumpkin importers. The study used a systems approach, utilising action research methodology as an entry point to conduct a collaborative inquiry. A market analysis of the niche market of the pumpkin industry was carried out.The following have been identified as the most important factors in the development of the industry. (1) It was found that low quality standard of pumpkin exports has been the main concern as it hinders the development of the niche market. (2) Insufficient government support services have also contributed to the low quality standard. Partly as a result of the action research project a strategic plan for the industry was developed and this has already led to changes in industry practices. / Master of Science (Hons)

This study posits a model of 'rural extension' which begins from humans, not from technology or information. The model has been used to facilitate community development at the village level. The research illustrates the potential of drama and participative forms of theatre as empowering 'action' learning/researching tools to reach people in rural communities, and as a means of involving those communities in creativity and learning about themselves and their environment collaboratively. The writer seeks to integrate participatory approaches with community development and human inquiry, humanistic approaches to education, experiential learning theories, and drama education theories and methods. The central questions which this research addresses are : 1/. What are the functions and the methods of participative theatre (as systemic communication) in the process of social change and development? and 2/. How can these participative forms of theatre elicit whole aspects of local knowledge, that is, tacit/explicit knowledge, facilitate learning and foster critical thinking through grass-roots participation? The ideas were formulated and tested through intensive field experiences with Iranian nomads, Iranian farmers, immigrant farmers in NSW, Australia, and within a number of workshops with different groups of students at Hawkesbury. This includes a critique of rural development in Iran, examinations of rural extension from a critical perspective, drama and theatre as process, learning and conscientization, personal construct psychology, systems thinking, learning through metaphor, action theory, Boal's participative forum theatre theory, and action research. Finally, the study explores drama as a form of systemic communication (that is, dialogue through a number of group activity techniques) / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This thesis contributes to the established literature on farm women within the context of family farming. It recognises that not enough is yet known about the discourses and agency which influence their lives. Consequently, this study has sought to establish what dominant discourses shape the lives of farm women, their responses to these discourses and how their discursive positioning influences their agency. This study employed a qualitative case study approach involving interviews with a diverse mixture of independent farm women, along with women farming in marital relationships. This thesis engages these narratives to showcase the colourful, complex life-experiences of farm women. In addition, and where present, women�s partners were interviewed to provide male farmers� perspectives about women in family farming. This research has found that women�s lives are shaped by positioning and contextualising discourses, with which they comply to ensure that the family farm survives. Their subservient discursive positioning limits the agency they can express, although they are able to mobilise indirect agency through supporting their partner; an implicit form of agency which has previously been unrecognised or understated. Cumulatively, this thesis highlights the need to recognise the diversity of farm women, and how they are able to exercise agency from their constrained subject positions within the family farming context. Furthermore it emphasises that agency is a dynamic, and far more varied concept than previously understood.

<p> </p><p>High pressure on water from competing users has changed the past perception of water as gift to water as a resource that requires sustainable management. Management of water resource needs active stakeholders’ involvement for its sustainability. Many organizations along with the national water policy have been calling for active stakeholders’ involvement for management of the resource.  In Usangu catchment conflicts over accessing water between farmers and pastoralists and between upstream and downstream have been common. Water allocation in the catchment has been done without involving stakeholders and adequate consideration of the rivers’ carrying capacity. This study focuses on stakeholders’ involvement in Usangu catchment. Six villages in three sub-catchments were studied and data were collected using questionnaire through face to face interview and focus group discussion. The study found that there is limited stakeholders’ involvement in Usangu catchment. In some places involvement is at basic stage, in other places there is no involvement. Interaction within stakeholders’ category was documented, while no stakeholders’ interaction between sub-catchments was discovered. Moreover, some challenges for active involvement were noted, such as lack of coordination between institutions operating in the catchment, high illiteracy rate and lack of awareness, and with lack of legislation support. The issue of limited stakeholders’ involvement in Usangu catchment is complicated, there is no single and comprehensive solution; integration of different approaches which are cross-sectoral in nature is needed for sustainable water management.</p><p> </p>

The Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), piloted in Oregon in 2001, provided $100 worth of vouchers (aka coupons) to low-income seniors to buy fresh local produce from farmers at farmers' markets and roadside stands. Presented in a political ecology framework, this research integrated the perspectives of beneficiaries and their communities into a program evaluation. Convenience interviews of participants at farmers' markets around Oregon revealed significant economic, social and nutritional benefits resulting from the program. Findings also revealed areas of contention for some seniors: produce prices, transportation barriers, and lack of awareness of local agriculture. Reimbursement delays, policing of coupon-users and lack of information caused frustrations for farmers. Generally, farmers were appreciative of seniors as customers, and of the program for enabling farmers and their market to perform a social good; strengthening the community-building role of the farmers' market, providing a social activity for seniors and their support network, creating new relationships between the community and farmers, and enabling seniors to participate in the market experience and farmers to provide fresh produce that enhanced seniors' nutritional intake. Overall, SFMNP achieved its objectives in supporting low-income seniors, farmers and farm-direct marketing, and was an appealing program for seniors and farmers. / Graduation date: 2004

Before leaving to study abroad in Kathmandu, I was excited to learn about Nepal’s agriculture industry. As one who focuses her studies on food politics, learning that Nepal is an agrarian country was very intriguing; Nepal is agrarian to such as extent that about 80% of its citizens gain their livelihood from farming, over 30% of the GDP derives from agriculture, and most people grow their own food. I expected to learn about the culture and strategy surrounding producing food in a different yet effective way. For my final research project while in Nepal, I chose to investigate Nepal’s potato industry and how concurrent government agricultural policies play out in the field - literally. After months of gaining experience and research, my previous vision of sustainable agriculture and happy valleys was turned upside down.