Ron Harben
Project Director, California Association of Resource Conservation Districts
- Templeton
- United States
Topics
15 Comments
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Re: CBSM & Farmer Behaviour: Managing Soil Resources
2014-07-28 20:41:21 UTC
Hi Jamie,
We at the California Conservation Agriculture Systems Innovation Center have been conducting much literature search on the adoption of innovation and found a particularly interesting article by a fellow Aussie D.J. Pannell titled: "Understanding and promoting adoption of conservation practices by rural landholders". I think you'll find it equally useful in your endeavors.
Ron Harben
Ron Harben
Project Director
California Association of Resource Conservation Districts
United States -
Re: Social Influence aids the Diffusion of Innovations
2014-01-09 14:27:32 UTC
We at the Conservation Agriculture Systems Innovation (CASI) Center are using CBSM to help increase the adoption of conservation farming systems in the San Joaquin Valley of California. The below article has been very helpful in our efforts.
Understanding and promoting adoption of conservation practices by rural landholders
D. J. Pannell A F G, G. R. Marshall B, N. Barr C F, A. Curtis D, F. Vanclay E, R. Wilkinson C F
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46(11) 14071424 http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/EA05037
Submitted: 14 February 2005 Accepted: 9 March 2006 Published online: 9 October 2006
Abstract
Research on the adoption of rural innovations is reviewed and interpreted through a cross-disciplinary lens to provide practical guidance for research, extension and policy relating to conservation practices. Adoption of innovations by landholders is presented as a dynamic learning process. Adoption depends on a range of personal, social, cultural and economic factors, as well as on characteristics of the innovation itself. Adoption occurs when the landholder perceives that the innovation in question will enhance the achievement of their personal goals. A range of goals is identifiable among landholders, including economic, social and environmental goals. Innovations are more likely to be adopted when they have a high relative advantage (perceived superiority to the idea or practice that it supersedes), and when they are readily trialable (easy to test and learn about before adoption). Non-adoption or low adoption of a number of conservation practices is readily explicable in terms of their failure to provide a relative advantage (particularly in economic terms) or a range of difficulties that landholders may have in trialing them.
Keywords: agriculture, economics, extension, innovation, learning, natural resource management, personality, policy, psychology, social issues, sociology, trials.
Ron Harben
Project Director
California Association of Resource Conservation Districts
United States -
Re: Helping Conventional Farmers Diversify
2012-05-10 12:52:05 UTC
The Conservation Agricultural Systems Initiative has been using the information contained in the following study to effectively increase the adoption of conservation cropping systems in the San Joaquin Valley of California. I highly recommend it to assist you in your efforts.
Understanding and promoting adoption of conservation practices by rural landholders (http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/72/paper/EA05037.htm)
Ron Harben
Air Quality Coordinator
California Association of Resource Conservation Districts
United States -
Re: CBSM & Faith-Based Groups
2011-11-14 12:16:03 UTC
Hello again, Theresa,
I just found this article in the California Climate and Agriculture Network (CalCAN) newsletter that you may find useful:
Stockton Symposium to Focus on Faith and Food
Agricultural practices and hunger issues will be discussed at the Faith, Food, and Farming Symposium in Stockton on Saturday, November 19. The public is invited to join San Joaquin Valley farmers, farm workers, California Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross, Stockton Diocese Roman Catholic Bishop Stephen Blaire, and other regional and national leaders for the one-day session.
Learn how agriculture is evolving in the San Joaquin Valley, and discuss the role of faith in the future of food and farming. The event takes place at the Robert Cabral Ag Center, 2101 East Earhart Avenue, Stockton. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., costs $15 and includes lunch. The symposium is sponsored by Catholic Charities Environmental Justice Program and The National Catholic Rural Life Conference. Contact: Betsy Reifsnider at [email protected] or phone 209-444-5925.
Ron Harben
Air Quality Coordinator
California Association of Resource Conservation Districts
United States -
Re: CBSM & Faith-Based Groups
2011-11-14 11:59:29 UTC
He Theresa,
The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) has sponsored Stewardship Week (http://www.nacdnet.org/stewardship/) since 1955. "In 1955, the National Association of Conservation Districts began a national program to encourage Americans to focus on stewardship. Stewardship Week is officially celebrated from the last Sunday in April to the first Sunday in May. It is one of the world's largest conservation-related observances.
"Outreach Materials for Churches - This page contains sermon starters, hymns and scriptures on the topics soil, water and energy for use by churches to encourage good stewardship of our nation's natural resources.
"Stewardship Success Stories - Districts share information on how they successfully celebrate Stewardship."
I'm sure that you can find much information at their website that they will be happy to share with you.
Ron Harben
Air Quality Coordinator
California Association of Resource Conservation Districts
United States -
Re: Waterway Protection Post Bank Degradation, Erosion
2011-08-30 15:13:39 UTC
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/search/?ss=16&navtype=SEARCH&cid=FSE_003585&navid=790000000000000&pnavid=null&ttype=search&pname=NRCS%20-%20Search
The above link is to the USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service home page. I entered "streambank stabilization" into the search box and found 1450 responses.
Generally speaking, you have to provide "offsite" (i.e., water away from the stream) watering facilities for livestock and fencing to keep the animals out of the stream for as long as it takes for the streambank vegetation to recover vigor.
There are many recommendations for revegetating the streambanks if there isn't enough residual native vegetation to do the job. Also, there are many types of bioengineering methods that may have to be employed if the erosion is too severe to rehabilitate itself.
There are several methods of taking water out of a stream and putting it into a tank and trough system. Some are basically gravity-flow systems that can use perforated pipe (similar to the pipe used in sewerage leach fields) underneath a gravel bed in the stream to collect the water then pipe it to a tank with a trough. Other systems use pumps (solar pumps don't require any electrical connection or pump engine) to put water into a tank.
Livestock induced strambank erosion may be a symptom of a greater grazing management problem. If this is the case, then you need to involve a qualified grazing management specialist to work with the grazier to educate them on forage growth requirements and the impact of herbivores on vegetation.
Ron Harben
Air Quality Coordinator
California Association of Resource Conservation Districts
United States -
Re: Woodstove Air Pollution: myth or reallity?
2011-08-15 12:59:45 UTC
The San Joaquin Valley of California has some of the worst air quality in the US due mainly to its topography and weather patterns. In the winter, PM 10 and 2.5, VOCs, and NOx from wood burning stoves has been determined to be a significant pollution source. Go to : www.valleyair.org and enter "woodstoves" in the search box and you'll find many references to the rules and regulations dealing with woodstoves. Also, look at the State Implementation Plans for PM10, 2.5, and ozone for emission inventory data.
Ron Harben
Air Quality Coordinator
California Association of Resource Conservation Districts
United States -
Re: Energy Management in Schools
2011-07-20 12:30:14 UTC
Googling "daylight LEDs" gets you many links to choose from.
Ron Harben
Air Quality Coordinator
California Association of Resource Conservation Districts
United States -
Re: Water Conservation in Urban Areas
2011-04-11 15:00:20 UTC
Anastasia, here are two articles you may find pertinent to your studies:
1. Impacts of Extension Education on Improving Residential Stormwater Quality: Monitoring Results
Abstract
The project reported in this article evaluated whether stormwater quality could be improved by educating homeowners and implementing best management practices in a suburban neighborhood. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and bacteria levels from two watersheds were compared using the paired watershed approach. Resident surveys, property site assessments, soil tests, and water quality and quantity monitoring were conducted. A x2-analysis of survey data indicated no significant changes in measured behavior. Significant (p=0.01) reductions in NO3-N and fecal coliform bacteria concentrations occurred; however, total nitrogen concentrations did not change significantly.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael E. Dietz
Department of Natural Resources Management and Engineering
Internet Address: [email protected]
John C. Clausen
Department of Natural Resources Management and Engineering
Internet Address: [email protected]
Glenn S. Warner
Department of Natural Resources Management and Engineering
Internet Address: [email protected]
Karen K. Filchak
Department of Cooperative Extension
University of Connecticut
Storrs, Connecticut
2. Education and Changes in Residential Nonpoint Source Pollution
MICHAEL E. DIETZ*
JOHN C. CLAUSEN
Department of Natural Resources Management and
Engineering
University of Connecticut
1376 Storrs Road, Unit 4087
Storrs, Connecticut, 06269-4087, USA
KAREN K. FILCHAK
Windham Extension Center
University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension
139 Wolf Den Road
Brooklyn, Connecticut, 06234-1729, USA
ABSTRACT / Urban areas contribute pollutants such as excess nitrogen and bacteria to receiving water bodies. The objective of this project was to determine if stormwater quality could be improved by educating homeowners and
implementing best management practices (BMPs) in a suburban neighborhood. The paired watershed design was used, where a control and treatment watershed are monitored during a calibration and treatment period. Treatment consisted of the education of homeowners and structural changes designed to minimize nonpoint pollution. Some changes in measured behavior were reported. According to
the treatment period survey, 11% of respondents in the treatment watershed began fertilizing their lawn based on the results of a soil test, whereas none had done so previously. In addition, 82% of respondents in the treatment watershed
stated that they left clippings on the lawn compared to 62% from the initial survey. Twelve of 34lots (35%) adopted some BMPs following education efforts, indicating a significant (P = 0.001) increase in BMP use overall. However, a v2 analysis of survey data indicated no significant changes in measured behavior with regard to specific questions. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) results indicated
that a 75% reduction in nitrite + nitrate - N (change in intercept, P = 0.001) and a 127% reduction in fecal coliform bacteria (change in slope, P = 0.05) concentrations occurred. However, the treatment period regression was nonsignificant for bacteria. Total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and ammonia-N concentrations did not change significantly. Intensive education efforts produced BMP implementation and measurable water quality improvements.
Ron Harben
Air Quality Coordinator
California Association of Resource Conservation Districts
United States -
Re: Barriers & Benefits of Commercial Energy Efficiency Improvements
2011-04-01 12:11:12 UTC
Sorry, Jan; I forgot to add Southern California Edison's website address: http://www.sce.com/b-sb/energy-centers/agtac/agtac.htm
Ron Harben
Air Quality Coordinator
California Association of Resource Conservation Districts
United States
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