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What’s “regenerative” in agriculture and what’s not?

 We are adding to the ACDC collection a recent article in The Packer periodical about confusion involving the current buzzword, “regenerative.” Author Kristin Leigh Lore noted that there isn’t yet a universally agreed upon definition. “The term is not regulated like organic.”

Citing a California Agricultural Vision report, she added:  “Even so, the ‘regenerative’ terminology is gaining traction and support like never before due to the belief that ‘regenerative’ moves beyond the philosophy of ‘do no harm’ to one of making things better. … A common thread that connects many definitions of regenerative agriculture is soil health.”  She cited five common initiatives described as regenerative.

You can read the article here.

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Role of social media: farmers’ protest in India

 A 2022 article in the Journal of Sikh and Punjab Studies addressed the role of social media after the passing of three farm bills in the Indian Parliament. Those laws launched the 2020-2021 Indian farmers’ protest. Author Tejpaul S. Bainiwal analyzed different historical forms of communication involving such conflicts in India.  Findings also revealed how social media were used in this protest to:

• Mobilize the masses and organize rallies
• Gather funds to support the farmers’ protests
• Help combat the dominant narrative
• Raise awareness about the protests

You can read the article here.

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Trends in U.S. vegetarian and vegan eating preferences

 The latest Gallup Poll (July 3-27, 2023)  “finds 4% of Americans saying they are vegetarian and 1% vegan, in terms of their eating preferences. These figures are similar to what Gallup has measured previously, including 2012 and 2018.”

You can read this brief research summary here, including demographics of those identified as vegetarian and vegan.

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Boosting awareness of rural issues among students – through writing

 In this 2021 Rural Educator article, secondary language arts teacher Anthony Olson explained how he changed his English curriculum. He wanted to help sophomores strengthen their awareness of rural issues in their communities.

In conclusion, after the change: “They know the issues we face… Above all, kids develop the necessary skills to assess the strengths and weaknesses in their ‘house’. …We need good change in rural communities and good change starts only after awareness is developed.”

You can read this article by open access here.

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Welcome to a new ACDC associate

We are delighted to welcome Nikki Gross as a new graduate assistant in the Agricultural Communications Document Center within Funk ACES Library. She joined us during mid-August with a part-time appointment as she undertakes graduate studies in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois.

Nikki earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in cultural anthropology with minors in English and history from the University of Arkansas. She brings research, international and musical experiences with her as well as prior library experiences from the University of Arkansas Libraries. At ACDC, she will catalog and process materials, identify preservation needs, alongside a variety of special projects.

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Communicator events approaching

Here are event plans you may find helpful, with contact information you can use for details. We welcome suggestions or revisions for this calendar.

October 6-10, 2023
“Science Writers 2023.” Annual meeting of the National Association of Science Writers (NASW) in Boulder, Colorado.
Information: https://nasw.orgf/events/upcoming

November 14-16, 2023
“Find yourself in Tassie 2023.” Australasia Pacific Extension Network (APEN) international conference in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.
Information: https://apen.org.au/events/news

November 15-17, 2023
“Homecoming.”  80^th Annual Convention of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) in Kansas City, Missouri.
Information: https://nafb.com/events/nafb-convention

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Learning to speak – and think

 We close this issue of ACDC News with this German proverb about communicating:

“Speaking comes by nature, silence by understanding”

Best regards and wishes

ACDC is a deep and open resource for you, so please feel free to invite our help as you search for information, local to global. You are welcome to follow us on Twitter @ACDCUIUC. And please suggest (or send) agricultural communications documents we might add to this unique and valued international collection. We welcome them in hard copy (sent to Ag Comm Documentation Center, 510 ACES Library, 1101 S. Goodwin Avenue, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801) – or in electronic format sent to acdc@library.illinois.edu

Click here for a printer-friendly PDF of this issue

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Changing strategies for communicating about climate

A research team writing in Energy Research and Social Science (2023) reported: “Research shows that multinational oil and gas companies have recently made a strategic shift away from outright climate denial to more nuanced discourses of climate delay.” In this article, authors analyzed tweets published by four companies to observe how they are communicating on their global Twitter accounts about the renewable energy transition.

“This pattern of communication – linking renewables to natural gas and promoting natural gas as part of their corporate response to climate change – suggests an evolution of fossil fuel companies’ strategic efforts to delay the energy transition and obstruct climate action.”

You can read the article here.

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“Farmer identity, ethical attitudes and environmental practices”

That title heads a 2014 journal article we are adding to the ACDC collection. Authors reporting in Ecological Economics surveyed Missouri farmers to examine the relationship between the identity of farmers and their attitudes toward ethical issues affecting the environment. They found that a conservation identity, in contrast with a productivist one, is closely correlated with attitudes toward ethical environmental issues. However, they found an important interaction effect with one’s view about the future.

You can read this article by open access here.

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Ecovillage as an alternative way of rural life: three case studies in Hungary and Slovakia

A 2018 article in European Countryside analyzed the concept and features of ecovillages and discussed the possible impacts and effects of the ecovillage movement on sustainable rural development.  In conclusion, researchers observed: “We think…ecovillages have the potential to be real role models for other villages because our doubtful society needs an already working proof that it is possible to live in a more nature-friendly way…”

You can read this article here.

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Issues in government use of social media for public relations in Indonesia

 “…government public relations communications through social media has not been fully able to bridge the digital divide, especially in rural areas.” So reported a research team in a JKAP (Jurnal Kebijakan dan Administrasi Publik) article we are adding to the ACDC collection.  Authors identified three problems in that effort:

• The pattern of communication involves opinion leaders
• Most feedback occurs indirectly, while ideally it should be direct
• The flow of information takes place in either one or two ways, in contrast with the ideal, which should be one step

You can read this journal article by open access here.

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The future of artificial intelligence – A view from 40-plus years ago

Potentials of AI are commanding increased attention these days. The trend prompts us to mention a 1980 perspective from Claude W. Gifford. At that time, he was Acting Assistant Director for Publications and Special Programs in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Here’s how he put it in a letter to a fellow agricultural communicator:

“Fortunately for your work and mine, someone will still need to find the information and string it out in words that give a clear meaning. That is, unless they invent human beings who think in electronic impulses, and who simply connect the computer to their cranial electrode and feed the computer blips directly into their brain disks. Then the fun will have gone out of this business. Until then, let’s enjoy it.”

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Communicator events approaching

Here are event plans you may find helpful, with contact information you can use for details. We welcome suggestions or revisions for this calendar.

September 10-13, 2023
Annual general meeting of the European Network of Agricultural Journalists (ENAJ) in St. Malo, France.
Information: https://enaj.eu

October 6-10, 2023
“Science Writers 2023.” Annual meeting of the National Association of Science Writers (NASW) in Boulder, Colorado.
Information: https://www.nasw.org/

November 14-16, 2023
“Find yourself in Tassie 2023.” Australasia Pacific Extension Network (APEN) international conference in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.
Information: https://apen.org.au/events/news

November 15-17, 2023
“Homecoming.”  80^th Annual Convention of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) in Kansas City, Missouri.
Information: https://nafb.com/events/nafb-convention

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Sensing the truth

We close this issue of ACDC News with a communications insight in “Letters from a self-made merchant to his son” by George Horace Lorimer:

“When the tongue lies, the eyes tell the truth.”

Best regards and wishes

ACDC is a deep and open resource for you, so please feel free to invite our help as you search for information, local to global. You are welcome to follow us on Twitter @ACDCUIUC. And please suggest (or send) agricultural communications documents we might add to this unique and valued international collection. We welcome them in hard copy (sent to Ag Comm Documentation Center, 510 ACES Library, 1101 S. Goodwin Avenue, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801) – or in electronic format sent to acdc@library.illinois.edu

Click here for a printer-friendly PDF of this issue

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Don’t call it “food waste”

“At least, don’t call it that when you’re talking about food that has to be discarded before it reaches the retail shelf or dining table. Instead, call it food loss.”

Independent food and agriculture consultant Lisa Johnson offered that advice in June to retail produce buyers, brokers and shippers at a Sustainable Produce Summit in California. She and other panelists offered solutions to food loss throughout all stages of the supply chain. They emphasized focusing on collaboration, innovation and technology.

You can read the summary article here.

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How Brazilian citizens view farm animal production systems

This journal article in Animals explored the beliefs and attitudes of Brazilians not associated with livestock production. Overall, participants in the study expressed preference for more “natural” production systems. “They also expressed concerns with livestock production systems that limited the movement or expression of natural behaviours, particularly those associated with animal suffering or distress.”

Authors noted that Brazil’s current farm animal housing practices that are associated with restriction of movement “may not align with societal expectations.”

You can read this article here. The article title is: “Brazilian citizens’ opinions and attitudes about farm animal production systems”.

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Why business reporters should take a second look at water quality reports in communities they serve

We are adding to the ACDC collection a 2021 article by Madeline Ackley. She said “Reports show that millions of Americans have been exposed to PFAS, a potentially cancer-causing family of chemicals.” She observed that previous studies have “dramatically underestimated” the scope of the problem.

The article also briefly describes water quality reports (required by law) and mentioned four tips to help journalists report about water quality in their local communities.

 You can read this article here.

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Learning first-hand about editorial independence

 “Mentor puts employment on the line for ‘rookie’ writer.” This headline appeared in a recent issue of the Agricultural Communicators Network newsletter. Author Frank Lessiter shared one of his college-level experiences in relationships among agricultural reporters, publishers and advertisers. It involved a research article he wrote about storage structures for high-moisture corn. The editor shared it in draft form with the manufacturer and got a thumbs-down response, prompting the editorial board to address a thorny issue of editorial independence.

You can read the article here and learn how the magazine handled this dilemma.

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 Public perceptions of food waste and climate quality

A 2023 national Harris Poll survey of consumers on behalf of Flashfood revealed a sincere desire by U.S. adults to reduce food waste in the current climate challenge. For example:

• Nearly 9 in 10 American adults (88%) said managing food waste is important to them
• 77% said they are concerned about the environmental impact of food waste (e.g., on land, water, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity)
• 75% said they believe that reducing food waste is important for solving climate change

You can read the research summary here by open access. It contains a link to the full report.

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Communicator events approaching

Here are event plans you may find helpful, with contact information you can use for details. We welcome suggestions or revisions for this calendar.

September 10-13, 2023
Annual general meeting of the European Network of Agricultural Journalists (ENAJ) in St. Malo, France.
Information:https://enaj.eu

November 15-17, 2023
80^th Annual Convention of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) in Kansas City, Missouri.
Information:https://nafb.com/events/nafb-convention

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Advice about leadership

 We close this July issue of ACDC News with a career tip about being a boss. It comes from Letters from a self-made merchant to his son.

“A boss with a case of big head will fill an office full of sore heads”

Best regards and wishes

ACDC is a deep and open resource for you, so please feel free to invite our help as you search for information, local to global. You are welcomed to follow us on Twitter @ACDCUIUC. And please suggest (or send) agricultural communications documents we might add to this unique and valued international collection. We welcome them in hard copy (sent to Ag Comm Documentation Center, 510 ACES Library, 1101 S. Goodwin Avenue, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801) – or in electronic format sent to acdc@library.illinois.edu

 

Click here for a printer-friendly PDF of this issue

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Where journalism “matters so much” in climate change

 Harvard University faculty member Daniel Schrag recently emphasized honest messaging as a key role of journalism in facing challenges in climate change. He spoke to Nieman Fellows early this year about how the media can help citizens understand the limitations of climate optimism and adapt in realistic ways.

“I think we’re going to be innovative in agriculture and we’ll be innovative in architecture. We’re going to be innovative in all sorts of things not because we’re brilliant but because we’re up against it.”

You can read a summary of his remarks in Nieman Reports here.

 

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Celebrating rural libraries

 We are adding to the ACDC collection some feedback which Rural Assembly received during April when it invited views about the impact of libraries on people’s lives. Here are some of the themes shared about local libraries:

• A refuge
• Rooted in history
• A family affair
• A social hub
• Battling misinformation
• Freedom (of being surrounded by books and having access to them)

You can read the article here.

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Community radio promotes local development across Africa

We are adding to ACDC a 2023 report featuring a new radio station in Senegal’s Bassari Country. Run by and for the listening community served, it broadcasts in six local languages.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has supported and promoted community radio stations such as this for more than 50 years, globally. Local stations facilitate social interaction, fit well with oral traditions and support democratic processes within societies.

“What makes a community radio so powerful is its potential as a tool to reach out to people with little or no access to information.”

You can read the report here.

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New smart shelf retail tags help “make products come to life”

A recent article in The Packer described how new smart shelf tags are helping an organic and specialty food distributor in North America instantly provide extra digital content about items via hyper dynamic QR codes. Consumers can instantly gain information about nutrition and allergen content, promotional offers, traceability, testimonials, and videos and images.

“Retailers never have to source, manage or update content, and the tags include automatically- printed codes.”

You can read the article here.

 

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“Rescuing and reviving rural journalism”

 Research findings reported in a 2023 issue of Journalism Practice identified a “clear disconnect” between U.S. rural newspaper publishers and their readers about possible funding models. Researchers Teri Finneman, Patrick Ferrucci and Nick Mathews surveyed rural newspaper publishers and rural residents to better understand their attitudes toward funding local news.

“Overall, our study found readers are most supportive of events, print subscriptions, e-newsletters, memberships, and donations. … As a whole, the reader results stand in direct contrast to not only publishers’ perceptions of what readers would support, but also publishers’ willingness to enact mechanisms to diversify revenue streams.”

This article is not available by open access. You can read the abstract and learn how to gain full-text access here. Or invite our help at acdc@library.illinois.edu

 

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Communicator events approaching

Here are event plans you may find helpful, with contact information you can use for details. We welcome suggestions or revisions for this calendar.

June 22-24, 2023
“The ever-changing media landscape.”  Annual conference of American Horse Publications (AHP) in Phoenix-Tempe, Arizona.
Information: https://americanhorsepubs.org/2023-ahp-meet-at-the-mesa-conference

September 10-13, 2023
Annual general meeting of the European Network of Agricultural Journalists (ENAJ) in St. Malo, France.
Information: https://enaj.eu

November 15-17, 2023
80^th Annual Convention of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) in Kansas City, Missouri.
Information: https://nafb.com/events/nafb-convention

 

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So you want to be a leader

We close this issue of ACDC News with a bit of traditional advice from Wales for those who aspire to leadership:

“A fo ben, bid bont” – “If you want to be a leader, be a bridge”

 

Best regards and wishes

ACDC is a deep and open resource for you, so please feel free to invite our help as you search for information, local to global. You are welcomed to follow us on Twitter @ACDCUIUC. And please suggest (or send) agricultural communications documents we might add to this unique and valued international collection. We welcome them in hard copy (sent to Ag Comm Documentation Center, 510 ACES Library, 1101 S. Goodwin Avenue, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801) – or in electronic format sent to acdc@library.illinois.edu

 

Click here for a printer-friendly PDF of this issue

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Struggles of newspapers serving Australian rural communities now

We are adding to the ACDC collection a 2023 Sustainability journal article. It sketches “a paradoxical picture of a revival of rural and regional journalism” in Australia. Authors used a range of primary and secondary data sources to track causes, scale, responses, and impact of what they described as a global crisis in print journalism.  Their findings reveal a mixture of innovation, hope, uncertainty, and risk.

You can read the research report by open access here.

You can also retrieve it using a title search: “Out of print: What the pandemic-era newspaper crisis…”

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Nonprofit models for rural news organizations

We also are adding to the ACDC collection an article by Al Cross about this topic from the 2022 National Summit on Journalism in Rural America at the University of Kentucky. He summarized the features of nonprofit models and cited comments from members of a discussion panel.

“We see nonprofit local news…as a real bright spot,” said a panelist from the American Journalism Project, which makes grants, partners with communities, and coaches leaders.  Another panelist explained that publishers who are interested in the nonprofit model can also explore it with the help of the Institute for Nonprofit News.

You can read the report by open access here.

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“Adoption of improved rice varieties in the Global South”

That title introduced a recent Rice Science article in which authors reviewed adoption of improved rice varieties in the Global South since the 1960s.  They sought to understand why the adoption of new varieties has remained relatively low.

Findings synthesized from 99 studies suggested that extensively-studied variables (farm size, location, education, information access, and farm location) “are not necessarily the most important determinants of adoption.” Authors advised “shifting away from predominant static analysis by capturing the dynamics of the adoption process and considering the potential biases in analyses.”

You can read the 43-page article by open access here.

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Keys to communicating about food waste in different cultural settings

We are adding to the ACDC collection some 2018 research findings that may help communicators reduce food waste in different cultural environments. Michigan State University doctoral candidate Rain Wuyu Liu learned that residents of China and the United States reacted differently to mass and social media campaigns involving food waste.

“While people from both countries share similar attitudes about food waste prevention, social norms and cultural orientations influence the type of communication that works best for getting the message across about health and environmental issues.”

You can read the research summary here.

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How swine industry stakeholders view precision livestock farming

“Despite the rapid proliferation of precision livestock farming (PLF) technologies, on-farm adoption has been slow,” a research team reported earlier this year in Frontiers in Animal Science. So members sought the views and concerns of stakeholders in the U.S. swine industry. They used semi-structured online interviews among influential on-farm stakeholders such as swine farmers, veterinarians, and breeders. They also interviewed off-farm stakeholders from the government, food processing and retail companies, and animal welfare certification organizations.

Findings revealed a high level of PLF technology awareness among most of the stakeholders. Some cited benefits included improved specificity in decision making among swine producers, increased efficiency of labor and feed, as well as improved animal care and health. Some limitations and concerns included poor internet connectivity, need to modify existing farm buildings and infrastructure, and issues of data ownership, privacy, and influence on human-animal relationships.

You can read the article by open access here.

Or search on title: “Precision livestock farming: a qualitative exploration…”

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Communicator events approaching

Here are event plans you may find helpful, with contact information you can use for details. We welcome suggestions or revisions for this calendar.

June 4-6, 2023
“Putting the Spotlight on Communications.”  2023 Institute of the Cooperative Communicators Association (CCA) in Portland, Maine.
Information: cca@communicators.coop

June 11-13, 2023
Conference of the Association for Communication Excellence (ACE) in Ashville, North Carolina.
Information: https://aceweb.org/2023conference

June 13-15, 2023
Annual meeting of the Agricultural Relations Council (ARC) in Des Moines, Iowa.
Information: https://agrelationscouncil.org

June 22-24, 2023
“The ever-changing media landscape.”  Annual conference of American Horse Publications (AHP) in Phoenix-Tempe, Arizona.
Information: https://americanhorsepubs.org/2023-ahp-meet-at-the-mesa-conference

September 10-13, 2023
Annual general meeting of the European Network of Agricultural Journalists (ENAJ) in St. Malo, France.
Information: https://enaj.eu

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How farmers stay in business

We close this issue of ACDC News with a communications insight from Jan Johnson, President of Millennium Research, in a recent issue of AgriMarketing Update:

Q:      “You know what keeps farmers in business?”

A:      “A good BS detector. Without this, they may as well be just babes in the

woods, ripe to be taken by every salesperson who comes down the  road.”

Best regards and wishes

ACDC is a deep and open resource for you, so please feel free to invite our help as you search for information, local to global. You are welcome to follow us on Twitter @ACDCUIUC. And please suggest (or send) agricultural communications documents we might add to this unique and valued international collection. We welcome them in hard copy (sent to Ag Comm Documentation Center, 510 ACES Library, 1101 S. Goodwin Avenue, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801) – or in electronic format sent to acdc@library.illinois.edu

 

Click here for a printer-friendly PDF of this issue

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UK farmers feeling short on information for agri-tech investments

A lack of knowledge about agri-tech is holding farmers in the United Kingdom back when it comes to implementing agri-tech in their business. So reported Caroline Stocks in a September 2022 article in the Farming Future Food independent news website.  Results of a National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society survey of about 400 farmers revealed that almost half (46.2%) felt they didn’t know enough about agri-tech.

“Understandably, there’s a real fear amongst farmers that they could make the wrong tech-choice for their farm and end up with an expensive system that becomes outdated quickly.”

You can read the report here.

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New research in the Journal of Applied Communications

• “Podcasts in production: An examination of current and best practices for agricultural and natural resource podcast producers”
• “A culture of fire: Identifying community risk perceptions surrounding prescribed burning in the Flint Hills, Kansas”
• “Factors influencing public perception of science”
• “Identifying stakeholders’ needs for agricultural communications in higher education curriculum in Australia”

You can read these JAC articles by open access here.

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The Trump effect on rural newspapers

A 2022 book chapter that we added recently to ACDC described “The Trump effect on rural communities and newspapers.” Author Al Cross serves as Director and Professor of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky. He noted that the presidency of Donald Trump increased divisions between rural and urban America.

“What you probably have not heard is that Trump also increased divisions among people living in rural communities, and that in combination with social media, it accelerated the decline of non-metropolitan newspapers, the most important source of local news and information for 60 million rural Americans.” In his chapter of The Future of the Presidency, Journalism and Democracy (Routledge) he detailed findings of his national analysis.

You can read the chapter by open access here.

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Boost awareness of ways to shorten food supply chains

A 2023 article in Environmental Research and Public Health highlighted ways to boost awareness of local agri-food products. The research team found a high potential demand for such foods in Poland and European countries such as France and Italy – but a “persisting low awareness regarding the existence of alternative distribution networks” for them.

Authors encouraged active involvement of local governments in creating short food supply chains.

You can read the journal article here.

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Impact of Extension Services on small farmers in India

The Journal of Extension Education recently contained an article examining effectiveness of the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) in the Assam region of India. ATMA is a market-driven extension model introduced under the National Agricultural Technology Project. Researchers Christopher Tirkey and Manesh Choubey surveyed a probability sampling of 160 small and marginal farmers in the Golaghat District. They concluded that timely dissemination of extension services, which meet the actual needs of the farmers, can affect the farmers’ production to a larger extent.

You can read the article by open access here.

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Communicator events approaching

Here are event plans you may find helpful, with contact information you can use for details. We welcome suggestions or revisions for this calendar.

April 25-27, 2023
Annual meeting of the Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA) in Portland, Maine. Information: https://www.toca.org/toca-annual-meeting

April 26-28, 2023
“Next2Now: Tap into the Future Today.” Conference of the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) in St. Louis, Missouri.
Information: https://www.nama.org/2023-agri-marketing-conference.html

April 26-29, 2023
Conference of the International Agricultural and Extension Education Association (IAEE) in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Information: https://aiaee.org/2023conference

June 4-6, 2023
“Putting the Spotlight on Communications.” 2023 Institute of the Cooperative Communicators Association (CCA) in Portland, Maine.
Information: cca@communicators.coop

June 11-13, 2023
Conference of the Association for Communication Excellence (ACE) in Ashville, North Carolina. Information: https://aceweb.org/2023conference

June 13-15, 2023
Annual meeting of the Agricultural Relations Council (ARC) in Des Moines, Iowa. Information: https://agrelationscouncil.org

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A communications insight from Brazil

We close our April issue of ACDC News with this Brazilian proverb:

“A timely ‘no’ beats a hasty ‘yes’

Best regards and wishes

ACDC is a deep and open resource for you, so please feel free to invite our help as you search for information, local to global. You are welcomed to follow us on Twitter @ACDCUIUC. And please suggest (or send) agricultural communications documents we might add to this unique and valued international collection. We welcome them in hard copy (sent to Ag Comm Documentation Center, 510 ACES Library, 1101 S. Goodwin Avenue, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801) – or in electronic format sent to acdc@library.illinois.edu