A “curious blend”: The successful farmer in American farm magazines, 1984–1991

Mass media images offer audiences models for how to perform the social roles they depict. Opinions and other attributes of credible media models may likewise be embraced by audience members seeking to identify with those models. Thus farm magazine narratives about “successful” farmers may encourage readers to model or aspire to featured farmers' production and management techniques and ascribe legitimacy to models' responses to current agricultural issues. However, production of agrarian images in the mass media — including images of farms, farmers, and farmers' values — are inevitably biased such that media representations of successful farmers selectively present objective characteristics in terms of the media's own ideological frameworks, which in turn reflect the dominant ideology of the social relations in which the media are engaged. As a first step in identifying farm magazines' role in creating social models for farmers, this study analyzes articles featuring “successful,” “leading,” or “innovative” farmers in leading agricultural magazines. The featured farmers are categorized according to enterprise characteristics and characterizations of them and their management philosophies. Findings show that farmers in farm magazines have larger than average operations and are portrayed in a way that blends a “farming as business” orientation with more conventional agrarian values but that generally omits non-business aspects of farm life.     

我国农地“三权分离”产权制度的剖析与建议

发展现代农业离不开土地规模经营,土地规模经营需要农地流转,农地流转呼唤"三权分离"。梳理了新中国成立以来的历次农地产权改革,对当前的农地"三权分离"进行了产权界定,强调"三权分离"的重要性;继而分析认为农地"三权分离"存在农地"非农化"与"非粮化"、工商资本挤压农民利益、信贷配给等风险,需要党和各级政府警惕,并提出相应的政策建议。     

Planners or performers? Reflections on indigenous dryland farming in northern Burkina Faso

Indigenous agricultural practices in semiarid West Africa must be seen as dynamic operations that serve different ends. These ends are not only agricultural, but symbolic. By highlighting how farmers in the Central Plateau region of Burkina Faso organize their farming strategies, the “agriculture as performance” arguments developed by Richards (1987, 1993) can be both challenged and extended from the humid forest zone of West Africa. Farmers, it can be argued, are also keen “planners;” in order to meet their goals they invest considerable effort in overcoming ecological constraints, and also spend time forging links with various institutions working for agricultural development. Technologies and ideas from multiple sources—including those from some innovative development institutions — are incorporated in agricultural planning and practices in different ways, by different farmers, and for different reasons. The prospect of locally initiated and managed agricultural change emerging on the Central Plateau will be dependent upon this dialogue between farmer innovation, local organizations, and development projects. Agricultural systems are, in many cases, consciously “constructed” through sustained investment in the land and in natural resource management. Dryland management efforts need to recognize the strategic and planned nature of these activities, if they are to work with farmers who are actively building and improving their own livelihood systems.     

The labor of terroir and the terroir of labor: Geographical Indication and Darjeeling tea plantations

In 1999, Darjeeling tea became India’s first Geographical Indication (GI). GI has proliferated worldwide as a legal protection for foods with terroir, or “taste of place,” a concept most often associated with artisan foods produced by small farmers in specific regions of the Global North. GI gives market protection to terroir in an increasingly homogenous food system. This article asks how Darjeeling tea, grown in an industrial plantation system rooted in British colonialism, has become convincingly associated with artisan GIs such as Champagne, Cognac, and Roquefort. The answer lies in a conceptual dyad that frames how British colonial officials, the Indian state, and international consumers have understood Darjeeling and its signature commodity. Since the colonial era, these actors have conceived Darjeeling as both an idyllic “garden” space and an industrial “plantation” space. As I show through an analysis of GI marketing materials and interviews with planters, pluckers, and consumers, this dyad maps in surprising ways onto labor relations. While planters’ and marketers’ discourses tend to emphasize the “garden,” laborers’ investment in GI lies primarily in an active—if also ambivalent—embrace of the plantation, encapsulated in the Nepali word “kamān.”     

Genotype×tillage interaction and the performance of winter bread wheat genotypes in temperate and cold dryland conditions

Growing concerns for food security and the alleviation of hunger necessitate knowledge-based crop management technologies for sustainable crop production. In this study, 13 winter bread wheat genotypes (old, relatively old, modern, and breeding lines) were evaluated under three different tillage systems, i.e., conventional tillage (CT, full tillage with residue removed), reduced tillage (RT, chisel tillage with residue retained) and no-tillage (NT, no-tillage with residue retained on the soil surface) in farmer's fields under rainfed conditions using strip-plot arrangements in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the west of Iran (Kamyaran and Hosseinabad locations) over two cropping seasons (2018–2019 and 2019–2020).The main objectives were to investigate the effects of tillage systems and growing conditions on the agronomic characteristics, grain yield and stability performance of rainfed winter bread wheat genotypes.Significant (P<0.01) genotype×tillage system interaction effects on grain yield and agronomic traits suggested that the genotypes responded differently to the different tillage systems. The number of grains per spike and plant height were positively (P<0.0) associated with grain yield under the NT system, so they may be considered as targeted traits for future wheat breeding. Using statistical models, the modern cultivars (“Sadra” and “Baran”) were identified as high yielding and showed yield stability across the different tillage systems. As per each tillage system, genotype “Sadra” followed by “Zargana-6//Dari 1-7 Sabalan” exhibited higher adaption to CT; while cultivars “Jam” and “Azar2” showed better performance under the RT system; and cultivars “Varan” and “Baran” tended to have better performance expression in the NT condition.The increased grain yields achieved in combination with lower costs and greater profits from conservation agriculture suggest that adapted cultivar and NT systems should be evaluated and promoted more widely to farmers in the west of Iran as an attractive package of crop management technologies.In conclusion, variations in the performance of genotypes and the significant genotype×tillage system interaction effects on grain yield and some agronomic traits assessed in this study suggest that the development and selection of cultivars adapted to the NT system should be considered and included in the strategies and objectives of winter wheat breeding programs for the temperate and cold dryland conditions of Iran.     

Social sustainability, farm labor, and organic agriculture: Findings from an exploratory analysis

Much of the attention by social scientists to the rapidly growing organic agriculture sector focuses on the benefits it provides to consumers (in the form of pesticide-free foods) and to farmers (in the form of price premiums). By contrast, there has been little discussion or research about the implications of the boom in organic agriculture for farmworkers on organic farms. In this paper, we ask the question: From the perspective of organic farmers, does “certified organic” agriculture encompass a commitment to “sustainability” that prioritizes social goals? Specifically, we aim to broaden our understanding of the relationship between social sustainability and organic agriculture by drawing attention to issues affecting farmworkers, whose labor and contribution tends to elude most discussions of organic agriculture. We present findings from a survey of organic farmers in California about the possible incorporation of social standards into organic certification criteria. Our findings suggest that, at best, lukewarm support for social certification within organic agriculture exists among certified organic farmers in California. They also question expectations that organic agriculture necessarily fosters social or even economic sustainability for most of the farmers and farmworkers involved. However, we also find exceptions to the patterns evidenced in our survey. In-depth interviews with select organic farmers demonstrate that there are individuals whose practices are atypical and demonstrate that, under some circumstances, an organic production system can be at once environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable.     

农户种植耕地的来源与差异研究--以云南省525户农户为例

基于云南省525户农户的随机问卷调查结果,研究农户种植耕地的来源与差异。结果显示,农户种植耕地绝大部分来源于自家承包地,而只有少部分来源于转入;农户之间的耕地流转活动仍处于较低水平,农户家庭种植面积相对偏小且较为细碎化,应采取措施来促使农户转入耕地。     

亚洲玉米螟颗粒体病毒利用研究

从亚洲玉米螟幼虫体内分离出一株“OFGV—01”病毒,该病毒颗粒体卵圆形,大小为295～356nm×250～305nm,平均为325.5nm×277.5nm。病毒粒子杆状,两端钝不弯曲或稍弯曲,大小为200～256nm×185～196nm,平均为228nm×190.5nm。该病毒对亚洲玉米螟幼虫致病力较强,在温度24～26℃,相对湿度73%～78%条件下,对3日龄、6日龄幼虫感病4～6天死亡率分别达100%和98.3%,9日龄、10日龄幼虫第8～9天死亡率分别为85.5%和83.5%。利用该病毒于山西省太谷县、祁县、榆次市田间防治亚洲玉米螟幼虫,防治效果一般为80%～85%.高的可达90%。该病毒对天敌无杀伤作用,对小白鼠(昆明种)、大白鼠(Wismr 种)、家免和豚鼠无致病性。     

Insects – a mistake in God's creation? Tharu farmers' perception and knowledge of insects: A case study of Gobardiha Village Development Committee, Dang-Deukhuri, Nepal

Recent trends in agriculturalresearch and development emphasize the need forfarmer participation. Participation not onlymeans farmers' physical presence but also theuse of their knowledge and expertise.Understanding potentials and drawbacks of theirlocal knowledge system is a prerequisite forconstructive collaboration between farmers,scientists, and extension services.An ethnoentomological study, conducted in aTharu village in Nepal, documents farmers'qualitative and quantitative knowledge as wellas perceptions of insects and pest management,insect nomenclature and classification, andissues related to insect recognition and localbeliefs. The study offers a basis to improvepest management programs in terms of efficacyand acceptance. It demonstrates, for instance,that a concept of pests and beneficials isvirtually missing in traditional farmingcommunities and that the Tharu folkclassification profoundly differs from thescientific classification, but is not radicallydifferent from other folk entomologicalsystems. Insects belong to the taxa calledkiraa consisting of arthropods andnon-arthropods that interact with humans. Theyare classified in several overlappinghierarchies where locomotion and human impactplay major roles while morphological criteriaare almost irrelevant. Recognition ofkiraa, however, is dominated by agriculturalaspects followed by physiological-behavioral,ecological, and human-directed features.Morphological criteria play a minor role. Innomenclature, however, the insects' physicalappearance is more important than otherfeatures. The study further shows that male andfemale farmers have different perceptions ofkiraa.The insect-related knowledge system of theTharu has prevented farmers from using modernpesticides in the past. In the course ofmodernization, however, some aspects of theirknowledge system could become obsolete andprove disadvantageous to their livelihood andagro-ecosystems.     

4种有机硅表面活性剂对斑马鱼的急性毒性与安全评价

为了评价新型有机硅表面活性剂对水生生物的影响,采用“半静态法”,分别研究了“速渗1号”(SUSHENYIHAO)、“好湿”(High-Speed)、“杰效利”(JIEXIAOU)及“捷润”(JIERUN)4种新型有机硅表面活性剂对斑马鱼的急性毒性,并进行了环境安全评价。急性毒性结果表明：“速渗1号”、“好湿”、“杰效利”及“捷润”对斑马鱼的【|C如值(96 h)分别为135．0,17．4,11．3和5．9 a．i．mg／L,即前3种有机硅表面活性对斑马鱼毒性表现为低毒,“捷润”为中毒。     

“新农人”乡村文旅创业驱动因素与组合路径构型探究

以杭州市富阳区蒋家村为案例地,以行动者网络理论为框架,在实证调研的基础上通过模糊集比较定性方法对“新农人”文旅创业的前后置因素、实施过程与效能进行深度调研,并结合10位“新农人”文旅创新创业的案例进行分析。结果表明：角色感知和资源资本是驱动“新农人”创新创业效能的首要促进因素,资源资本和政府政策是影响“新农人”文旅创新创业驱动力的外部保障性因素,角色感知和内部情感与信念作为内部驱动合力是内向型保障因素。当区位条件和周围支持成为主推因素时,“新农人”文旅创业的驱动影响因素偏向交通区位和资源资本主导型。“新农人”文旅创新创业驱动组合要素会随着政策更迭、商业模式红利期的周期、网络热点的追踪等而发生变化。最终,提出基于定性比较分析实证研究的“新农人”创新创业驱动因素和组合路径情境下的行动者网络理论模型框架。     

中国农业保险、农业贷款与农民收入耦合协调发展研究

农业保险和农业贷款是促进农业产业可持续、集约化和高质量发展的有力工具,理论上也是切实提高农民收入的重要手段。本文基于全国25个省2009—2018年数据,构建了“农业保险”“农业贷款”和“农民收入”3个系统的耦合协调发展模型。结果发现,中国各省农业保险、农业贷款和农民收入的发展水平逐年上升,农民收入增速超过了农业保险和农业贷款;然而,各系统的总体发展水平和3个系统的综合发展水平相对较低,且存在明显的区域差异。农业大省或自然灾害多发地区,其农业保险发展较好;经济较发达地区或农业大省,其农业贷款和农民收入水平相对较高;经济欠发达地区三者都比较低等。此外,大部分省(自治区、直辖市)的农民收入对农业经济的依赖程度正在变低。耦合协调度方面,2009—2018年各省3个系统的耦合协调度都呈现出稳定增长态势;但是,2018年的整体均值较低,尚处在初级协调发展阶段。而大多数省份的数据揭示,3个系统的协调发展有利于农民收入增长,且协调度越高越有利。基于此,本文提出了促进三者协调发展的相关对策建议。     

马克思利益观视阈下农民生产经营观念的变迁与构建

依据马克思的利益观,对利益问题的理解要坚守唯物史观立场,利益的实质是调节社会关系。生产经营观念是农民利益观的集中体现,随着我国社会发展环境的变化,改革开放以来东部地区农民的生产经营观念出现了从“勤勉重农”到“农工商并进”的转变,中西部地区农民的生产经营观念出现了从“勤勉重农”到“重工保农”再到“农工商并进”的转变。农民生产经营观念的变迁对社会关系既产生了积极影响又产生了消极影响,为弱化消极影响、实现多重利益关系的和谐要进一步构建农民的生产经营观念。     

Mobility, embodiment, and scales: Filipino immigrant perspectives on local food

Local foodshed proponents in the United States seek to change the food system through campaigns to “buy local” and to rediscover “good food” in the local foodshed. Presumably, common sense dictates that the word “local” signifies spatial proximity to the consumer. For some populations, however, both the terms “local” and “local food” signify various different meanings. The local food definition generally used by scholars and activists alike as “geographically proximate food” is unhelpfully narrow. Localist rhetoric often does not incorporate the food choices and practices of immigrants, migrants, and refugees. In this paper, I report the various characterizations of local food among Filipino immigrants in San Diego, California: (1) geography-based local food; (2) (US) America-based local food; (3) community-based local food; and (4) immigrant identity-based local food. Local foodshed proponents should acknowledge those who have a starkly different definition of “local”—those who possess translocal subjectivities, for whom “local-ness” is both mobile and embodied. My study underscores how the movement of food—or its containment within a geographic space—cannot be viewed in isolation from the movement of people.     

Get real: an analysis of student preference for real food

The Real Food Challenge is a national student movement in the United States (U.S.) that aims to shift $1 billion—roughly 20%—of college and university food budgets across the country towards local, ecologically sound, fair, and humane food sources—what they call “real” food—by 2020. The University of Vermont (UVM) was the fifth university in the U.S. to sign the Real Food Campus Commitment, pledging to shift at least 20% of its own food budget towards “real” food by 2020. In order to examine student preference for “real” food on the UVM campus, we analyzed a survey of 904 undergraduate students that used contingent valuation to evaluate students’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) for the “real” attribute. We found that a majority of students are willing to pay a positive premium for “real” food. Furthermore, we found that student characteristics and attitudes significantly influence WTP. Specifically, gender, residency, college, and attitudes about price and origin of food are significant predictors of WTP.     

杂交水稻制种技术开发研究

为了适应市场经济的发展 ,自从 1995年以来 ,我们改革了以前的制种机制 ,采用了“公司 +农户” ,“科研 +基地”的产业化制种思路 ,不断调整制种组合及相应的技术措施 ,取得了可观的经济和社会效益。     

Crisis in Swedish farmland preservation strategy

Since the late 1960's, a mix of government policies has prevented the loss of farmland in Sweden, “either to forest or asphalt”; these policies have also ensured the maintenance of soil fertility and groundwater resources. However, in Sweden as in several other European nations, a chronic and growing “grain glut” in recent years has undermined the economic logic of import protection and farm price supports—the principle means of promoting a sustainable agriculture. Mainstream economists, imbued with urban-biased and production-centered values, have long criticized these costly mechanisms of public support as cost-ineffective and socially unjustified. They and many prominent politicians tend to minimize the non-production benefits of maintaining an open “working landscape” and rural communities dependent upon agriculture. Historically, Sweden's major farm organizations and its agrarian political party have resisted this economistic view with considerable success. Therefore it was a shock to many observers when, in 1986, leaders of the Swedish Federation of Farmers itself proposed planting trees on crop land as one element of a solution to overproduction. This essay traces the evolution of Swedish farm debates and policies since World War II, leading to the present critical juncture. It explores the incipient alliance between farmers and conservationists to protect farmland (as well as family farms and farm communities) and assesses the prospects for maintaining land in production through diversification into biomass energy crops and high protein fodder crops (the former option takes on new significance in the wake of the Chernobil disaster and pressure for early de-commissioning of Sweden's nuclear power plants; the latter would reduce Swedish dependence on imported soybeans). Finally, there is speculation on the relevance of Sweden's experience for American farmland policy.     

Bats limit insects in a neotropical agroforestry system

Exclosure experiments have demonstrated the effects of bird predation on arthropods. In a Mexican coffee plantation, we excluded foliage-gleaning bird and bat predators from coffee plants. Effects of bats and birds were additive. In the dry season, birds reduced arthropods in coffee plants by 30%; birds and bats together reduced arthropods by 46%. In the wet season, bats reduced arthropods by 84%, whereas birds reduced them by only 58%. We conclude that previous "bird" exclosure experiments may have systematically underestimated the effects of bats.     

Folk experiments

Folk experiments in agriculture are often inspired by new ideas blended with old ones, motivated by economic and environmental change. They tend to save labor or capital. These notions are illustrated with nine short case studies from Nicaragua and El Salvador. The new ideas that catalyze folk experiments may be provided by development agencies, but paradoxically, the folk experiments are so common that the agencies that inspire them usually pay little attention to them. Some folk experiments are original, but others simply copy innovations that farmers have seen somewhere else. Unlike formal scientific research, in which results are consistently written, folk experiments are rarely “inscribed,” because the results are for use by individual farmers and need not be shared with an audience.     

参与式果树发展探究

贵州省是一个典型的农业山区省份，荒山坡地资源极为丰富。种植经济林果木是利用荒地资源，提高农民收入的有效途径。传统的果树发展一般是政府技术部门根据项目计划引进果苗发放给农民种植。农民在项目中处于被动接受的地位，没有主动性因而失去积极性。该研究针对传统的果树发展项目存在的问题，采用参与式方法，即农民自始至终参与到项目的决策、计划、实施到收益分配的全过程中，在两个试验村发展果树。有了主动性，农民的思想从为“政府种树”转变成“为自己种树”，重视果树管理，效益明显。