School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences - Theses

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Subject: Victoria × Subject: Dairy farming × Subject: Agricultural extension work × Start date: 2000 × End date: 2020 × Type: Masters Research thesis ×

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    A process for practice : learning for change in the dairy industry
    Kenny, Sean Nicholas ( 2002)
    The dairy industry in Victoria, and indeed agriculture more generally, is facing a new generation of increasingly complex issues. Problems associated with issues such as the deregulation of markets and sustainable farming practices are ones which seemingly can not be addressed through the application of technology alone. In 1999 a review of human resource development and extension (HRD&E) in Australia's dairy industry identified that for farmers to be adequately supported in tackling such issues, the HRD&E system required extensive development, particularly in the area of understanding farmer learning. Learning plans were discussed as a possible means by which this could be achieved, however there was much ambiguity associated with this term, particularly for extension practitioners. Thus this project was born and aimed to explore the learning, motivation and change behaviour of dairy farmers in south west Victoria in relation to improving grazing management performance. After a review of the potential paradigms through which this research could be explored, practice theory and the interplay model were found to be the most appropriate, as such an approach enabled the researcher to engage farmers at the level of on farm practice. The underlying epistemological paradigm through which the area of learning plans was explored combined the constructivist and critical theory positions, while the methodologies applied were a collective case study approach, using a Straussian style of grounded theory. Through the interplay model it became clear that for this research to be effective, an improved understanding of farmer learning needed to be examined in terms of the provision of extension services. As such, new theory generated was explored and applied in practice using an action research approach, engaging five extension practitioners from around the state of Victoria. Overall, this research has produced a new model which describes farmer learning as a process of change where action and intention are informed, challenged and balanced by potentially opposing worldviews. The action research phase of the project identified that such learning would be best facilitated through partnerships with extension. Such partnerships involve the practice of extension working towards better understanding the farmers needs as well as the nature of their farming system, and then using this understanding to inform the application of extension resources. The process through which this concept was generated is clearly outlined and discussed, as are the implications that this research presents for the future development of extension in Victoria.