The major purpose of this study is to present selected empirical results of a study employing decision-making theory as a framework for considering decision making under risk. The part icular problem involves choices between alternative crop rotations for Sevier County farmers. The study demonstrates the usefulness of the Bayesian theory that gives more than a point estimation. A multiple regression mod e l using two linear terms was employed to determine the influence of s now pack and reservoir storage on water availability for irrigation purposes during July, August , and September. The Bayesian approach was employed. The optima l action or decision was first determined where only the knowledge of the~ priori probabiities of the states of nature was available. Optimal strategies were then determined where run-off observation was available and the~ poster iori probabilities of the states of nature were determined. Study results indicate that the expected va lue of the additional information is substantial and come out very close to the expected value of a perfect predictor and higher than the expected value of t he "no data" problems . It means that the Bayesian approach gives more than a point estimation a nd is us eful for farm management decision making under risk.

Firm growth and best management practice (BMP) adoption of a representative, diversified, southeastern Virginia, farrow to finishing hog farm is examined in a multi-period linear programming framework. Specific attention is focused on the acquisition of additional productive resources and the impact of BMP adoption on the optimal combinations of crop and livestock activities over a five year planning horizon. The maximization of after-tax net income was employed as the objective function of the model. Increases in terminal net worth were transferred to the objective function at the end of the planning period. Two sets of model solutions were obtained; one set with cost-share subsidies and the other without. Results indicate that farm growth potential exists with or without cost-share subsidies and that the current high costs of external capital tend farmers toward use of internal financing. The availability of labor during peak periods ultimately constrained the growth process. The specific direction of the modeled farm's growth led to the investment in a totally confined slatted-floor house means of hog production. The model demonstrated a decic;!ed preference for the use of investment tax credits over the direct expense deduction provision of the federal income tax code. In general, sod filter strips, grassed waterways and no-till cropping proved to be the most cost-effective BMPs in achieving nonpoint source pollution objectives. / M.S.

Finally it may be logically assumed that the teacher of agriculture, the county agricultural agent or the agricultural extension worker, who marches forward to his task with the armor of a well organized all-day group over his breast; the protection of a closely co-operating farmers' evening group. like a shirt of mail about his loins; with shin guards as an advance at: effective instruction in the unorganized group; all capped by a well-planned program as an invincible helmet, together with a gleaming sword of' ambition in his trained right arm) will skillfully carve his path toward achievement in the realm of service to the American farmer. / Master of Science

In May, 1921, a request for all available information on courses in Farm Management for Agricultural High Schools was sent to each Professor of Agricultural Education, at the State Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges, in the United States. Eighteen letters were received in reply to the inquiry. The following material was obtained, studied, and used as a basis for the course here offered: 1. U.S.D.A. Bulletin 592--Courses in Secondary Agriculture for Southern Schools. 2. Suggestions on Courses in Agriculture for the Smith-Hughes Schools in Kentucky, - Prof. McNeal C. James. 3. Vocational Agriculture for Teacher Training Classes in Michigan, Bul. No. 19-- Dept. of Agricultural Education, Michigan Agricultural College. 4. Course of Study for Farm Management. - Virginia Agricultural Instructor, Sept., 1921. 5. Outline of Course in Farm Management. - Prof. D.W. Hamilton --Washington State College, Pullman, Wash. 6. Agriculture in High Schools. -Goddard and James. --Dept. of Public Instruction, Madison, Wis. 7. The Organization of the Course of Study in Agriculture, Crandall & Barnett. --Dept. of Pub. Instr., of Columbia, S.C. 8. New York State Agricultural Teachers' Bulletin, Jan., 1920, and May 1920. 9. Course of Study in Elementary Agriculture for Wisconsin Public Schools. - F.E. Heald, Asst., Agri. Edu., U.S.D.A. 10. Letters and suggestions from other Professors of Agricultural Education in State Colleges. The course as presented is for Virginia schools and was prepared and used under conditions which prevail at Apple Grove, in Louisa County. The course was taught there in 1922-23, and has been revised in the light of experience thus gained, and of suggestions from the Teacher-Training Department at the V.P.I. The present form is the result of still another revision suggested by the State Supervisor of Agricultural Education, to make the work reflect the latest available suggestions as to courses of study. / Master of Science

Grazing by domestic livestock is one of the primary ways by which humans have modified landscapes. At low stocking rates livestock grazing can modify vegetation community composition, but at high stocking rates grazing can also reduce vegetation productivity and initiate soil erosion, leading to land degradation. The country of Iceland has undergone severe land degradation over the past 1100 years, with over half of the former vegetation cover being lost, and the remainder having depleted productivity. This work focuses upon the role that grazing by domestic livestock played in this degradation, and how the interactions between farm management, vegetation cover and climate affected grazing patterns in space and time. The aims of the research were achieved by constructing an environmental simulation model, called Búmodel, which allowed a cross-disciplinary approach that integrated landscape ecology, environmental archaeology and historical analysis. Búmodel was loosely coupled with GIS so that spatially based model inputs and outputs could be displayed and analysed in map form. The purpose of Búmodel was to predict spatial and temporal patterns of vegetation biomass production and utilisation (through grazing and hay-making) with a view to commenting on vegetation degradation in the pre-modern period (pre-1900 AD). The model was parameterised using contemporary and historical Icelandic agricultural data. Model validation was undertaken using sensitivity tests and comparison with data from an independent grazing experiment in the north of Iceland. Búmodel was then applied to two contrasting study areas: Vestur- Eyjafjallahreppur, a farming community on the south coast of Iceland, and Hofstaðir, a farm estate in the north east of the country, situated inland by Lake Mývatn. These applications demonstrated the importance of farm management in avoiding land degradation and in ameliorating the impact of climate. They also established the usefulness of Búmodel as a tool for the investigation of human and environmental interactions in Iceland.

Calls for increased farmer involvement in research and extension programs have been numerous and well supported. One approach to integrate the collective knowledge and experience of agricultural scientists and farmers is through whole farm case studies (WFCS). An interdisciplinary team of 34 research and extension personnel at Oregon and Washington State Universities conducted WFCS of 16 vegetable and small fruit farms beginning in April 1989. The objectives of the Oregon/Washington case study project were to: (1) increase farmer involvement in research and education programs; (2) develop an interdisciplinary team to address issues of agricultural sustainability in western Oregon and Washington; (3) examine the use of the case study approach in agricultural situations; (4) prepare a guide to assist other persons interested in conducting WFCS; (5) develop a better understanding of vegetable and small fruit farming systems in the region; and, (6) identify sustainable agriculture research and education needs in western Oregon and Washington. The WFCS process proved useful in developing an interdisciplinary team, and the vast majority of team members participating in the study stated they would consider using the WFCS approach again in their work. However, the primary constraint cited by all team members was the amount of time required to conduct the study. The process of conducting WFCS in western Oregon and Washington improved communication among a wide group of people. Team members gained a better understanding of the complexity of farms and identified several areas requiring further research. Farmers stated they enjoyed participating in the case study project and discovered new information that will assist them in managing their farming systems. Farmer-developed innovations were identified that are useful to other farmers and to the research process. Included in this thesis are: (1) a guide for conducting whole farm case studies; (2) a summary of data collected from 16 farms in western Oregon and Washington participating in the WFCS, including a summary of interaction among interdisciplinary team members; and, (3) a profile of one of the farms participating in the WFCS. / Graduation date: 1994

This study was conducted in two shires of Laidley and Gatton in the Lockyer Valley in 1986. The research method used was a self-administered mail questionnaire sent to four hundred primary producers. The response rate received was 49.5 percent which is quite reasonable for a random sample of a non-specific interest group. The study area was divided into six zones based on the 198 respondents’ assessment of the enterprise from which they derived major income. The main approach of this project was a situational analysis o the Lockyer Valley. Central to this research was identification of the pressure and extent of problems relating to several aspects of land use, notably soil erosion, weed infestation; availability and quality of water and more general community-based problems. The characteristics of farm households, the role of family members in decision-making and tasks related to farm as well as home, were also included in this study. The Lockyer Valley is a major production area of vegetables as well as a mixed farming area. Natural pasture, which was extensively found in Zone 6, was largely used for cattle grazing. Generally, rural women were better educated than their husbands, and the ratio of educational level of husband and wife was higher than previous research findings. A large number of producers and their wives have taken off-farm work, and women tended to spend more time in off-farm employment. Only 6.1 percent of producers’ children had completed tertiary education and the majority of all sons were working on the farm. Partnership was found to be the major type of property ownership and inter-generational transfer of the property was the future plan. The producers who were from a non-farm upbringing and who had already taken up off-farm work intended to leave their properties at some time in the future. With the running of the farm business , 35 percent of rural women worked full-time in partnership with their husbands, and 42 percent worked part-time. However, 23 percent of rural women were homemakers and were not involved in running the farm business. The association between decision-making of husband and wife and situational factors such as ownership, involvement in farm tasks, record-keeping, education, on-farm upbringing and age were analysed. Joint involvement of wives in decision-making was to be related to ownership, farm tasks and record-keeping. However, husbands were more likely to take a major role in decision-making if they were more educated and had an on-farm upbringing. Age was found to be a factor affecting joint decision-making, although this result conflicted with findings of earlier research. The opinions of the farm community in identifying the problems of the specific small area in the Lockyer Valley were revealed. Lantana was the most severe weed problem in the whole catchment. The catchment area also had problems with wattle. The recommended control method of lantana was replacement by improved pasture, but it was adopted by few primary producers. Soil erosion in the form of gullies, bank erosion, sheet erosion, salinity and flooding were some of the problems perceived by the local community. Regular ‘slash and burn’ was practised by most of the producers. This is one of the causes of land degradation. Bore, creek and river, and dam were the main water sources for farm supply and irrigation. Only 60 percent of bored had adequate water supply and good water quality. Farm dam and creek/river sources were less reliable due to the inadequate availability of water. Consequently, operators at about half the cropped farms had to stop growing some vegetables which were previously commercially successful. Within the context of farm family needs, emphasis was placed on conservation of water, because of the erosion and water problems. The community’s opinion on community development activities emphasised the involvement of farm families. Finally, suggestions for the extension program which should be emphasised on rural development by means of community participation were included. The bases for further studies was also provided in this report.

This study was conducted in two shires of Laidley and Gatton in the Lockyer Valley in 1986. The research method used was a self-administered mail questionnaire sent to four hundred primary producers. The response rate received was 49.5 percent which is quite reasonable for a random sample of a non-specific interest group. The study area was divided into six zones based on the 198 respondents’ assessment of the enterprise from which they derived major income. The main approach of this project was a situational analysis o the Lockyer Valley. Central to this research was identification of the pressure and extent of problems relating to several aspects of land use, notably soil erosion, weed infestation; availability and quality of water and more general community-based problems. The characteristics of farm households, the role of family members in decision-making and tasks related to farm as well as home, were also included in this study. The Lockyer Valley is a major production area of vegetables as well as a mixed farming area. Natural pasture, which was extensively found in Zone 6, was largely used for cattle grazing. Generally, rural women were better educated than their husbands, and the ratio of educational level of husband and wife was higher than previous research findings. A large number of producers and their wives have taken off-farm work, and women tended to spend more time in off-farm employment. Only 6.1 percent of producers’ children had completed tertiary education and the majority of all sons were working on the farm. Partnership was found to be the major type of property ownership and inter-generational transfer of the property was the future plan. The producers who were from a non-farm upbringing and who had already taken up off-farm work intended to leave their properties at some time in the future. With the running of the farm business , 35 percent of rural women worked full-time in partnership with their husbands, and 42 percent worked part-time. However, 23 percent of rural women were homemakers and were not involved in running the farm business. The association between decision-making of husband and wife and situational factors such as ownership, involvement in farm tasks, record-keeping, education, on-farm upbringing and age were analysed. Joint involvement of wives in decision-making was to be related to ownership, farm tasks and record-keeping. However, husbands were more likely to take a major role in decision-making if they were more educated and had an on-farm upbringing. Age was found to be a factor affecting joint decision-making, although this result conflicted with findings of earlier research. The opinions of the farm community in identifying the problems of the specific small area in the Lockyer Valley were revealed. Lantana was the most severe weed problem in the whole catchment. The catchment area also had problems with wattle. The recommended control method of lantana was replacement by improved pasture, but it was adopted by few primary producers. Soil erosion in the form of gullies, bank erosion, sheet erosion, salinity and flooding were some of the problems perceived by the local community. Regular ‘slash and burn’ was practised by most of the producers. This is one of the causes of land degradation. Bore, creek and river, and dam were the main water sources for farm supply and irrigation. Only 60 percent of bored had adequate water supply and good water quality. Farm dam and creek/river sources were less reliable due to the inadequate availability of water. Consequently, operators at about half the cropped farms had to stop growing some vegetables which were previously commercially successful. Within the context of farm family needs, emphasis was placed on conservation of water, because of the erosion and water problems. The community’s opinion on community development activities emphasised the involvement of farm families. Finally, suggestions for the extension program which should be emphasised on rural development by means of community participation were included. The bases for further studies was also provided in this report.

Agriculture plays a vital role towards shaping the economy of South Africa. The role of agriculture in South Africa in ensuring a strong food supply has been greatly emphasised by the department of Agriculture in their Strategic Plan for South African agriculture. The agricultural environment in South Africa changes just as much as any other corporate environment and has forced farm owners and managers to start thinking holistically. With the many challenges facing farming businesses in South Africa, including constantly rising input costs, an unwell labour market, discouraging political talks about land reform, price fluctuations for crops and very limited help with financing, it is essential that all activities and resources of the farming business be strategically planned and prioritised. It is essential that all individuals involved in managing the farming business understand where the farm is going, how it plans to get there, and the problems and/or opportunities that lay ahead. This study focused on agricultural businesses in the North West Province of South Africa, and the main objective was to establish whether a well-research strategic plan could benefit farm owners and farm managers to produce more successful results. The research objective was, firstly, to review the literature and determine the key enablers required for successful strategy implementation in the agriculture industry and to investigate different strategy management frameworks to give a structure to allocate resources effectively in order to ensure long-term achievement of goals that are set out in the strategy. The second objective of the study was to analyse the findings of the empirical study and make recommendations on how to improve on the strategy of the farming business. The study report is concluded by making recommendations and encouraging farm owners and managers to include strategic planning into their business for farming success. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this was to assess skills and experience in commercial farming among black farmers; identify s kills required in commercial farming among black farmers; and empirically gain an insight of experience and constraints black farmers face in commercial farming. Design/methodology/approach : Qualitative and quantitative data collection methods were used. Qualitatively, 12 participants were interviewed and 41 participants answered a closed-ended questionnaire. The following variables were used to assess black farmers' s kills in commercial farming: skills in farm management principles; skills in decision making science; skills in farm record keeping; skills in farm risk management; skills in creating a competitive advantage for a farm business; skills in farm financial management; and experiences and constraints facing black commercial farmers. Findings: It was found in this study that there is a significant deficiency in black farmer ' skills in commercial farming. The study further found that black farmers require skills in farm management principles, decision making science in farming, farm record keeping, risk management in farming, creating a competitive advantage for a farm business and farm financial management. In terms of their experience from their successes and failures, black farmers perceive that they need to be committed and determined, to have passion, patience and perseverance, and need to work collectively in farming business. Research limitations/implications: A number of participants in both methods of collecting data limited the generalization of results. However, bridging of skills gap among black farmers could improve on their current practice in commercial farming. In their own experiences continuous support from relevant structures could impact positively in their commercial farming. / Thesis (MBA) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2010