stimulating private sector extension in australian...

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Stimulating private sector extension in Australian

agriculture to increase returns from R&D

A/Prof Ruth Nettle Leader, Rural Innovation Research Group, University of Melbourne

Where do farming groups need to be in the next 5 years?

Findings from a national survey of farmers and advisers about

the agricultural extension landscape

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Overview

1. Changes in the national extension landscape

2. National farmer and adviser survey*:

a) the nature of farmer demand for information, advice and support

b) farmers main sources and practice change

c) methods advisers use to keep up to date/connect with research

d) advisers connect with the RD&E system

3. Implications and opportunities for:

• Farming groups

* Conducted as part of the Rural R&D for Profit program project “Stimulating private sector extension in Australian agriculture to increase returns from R&D”

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1. The national extension landscape

E

Public, private,

NGO (and a mix

of all)

R&D investment

(sometimes E)

Farm adoption/

change

(productivity)

• Big changes

• Emerging issues

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Large no. of sole

operators and

SME’s (1-5 other

people in their

organisation

provided

information, advice

and support to

farmers) (n=324)

2. National farmer and adviser survey (Farmer: July-September 2016(Adviser: December 2016-February 2017)

Farmer responses

N=1003

Grains n=171

Mixed cropping/grazing n= 76

Beef and/or sheep n= 323

Adviser responses

N=655

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Advisers servicing

the grains sector:

Public

organisation

(Consulting)

(n=235)

Private

organisation

(commercial)

(n=235)

Public

organisation

(government)

(n=117)

Industry

organisation/

association

(n=45)

Sole Operator

(n=41)

Non-

governmental

organisation/

not for profit

(n=34)

Farmer-based

organisation

(n=30)

Mixed – cropping

and grazing26% 28% 42% 9% 22% 21% 33%

Cropping (grains) 22% 26% 45% 16% 17% 18% 27%

…and the grains advisers surveyed worked across all organisation types

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a) Farmer demand for information, advice and support

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Farmers are seeing challenges: skills, knowledge, costs

X% / X% = p<0.05 statistically significant difference – higher /lower *=low base size

% Agree (6 & 7)Cotton

(n=50)

Hort

(n=130)

Sugar

Cane

(n=88)

Poultry /

Pork

(n=60)

Mixed -

cropping

and

grazing

(n=76)

Dairy

cattle

(n=81)

Cropping

(grains)

(n=171)

Sheep

for

wool

(n=57)

Beef

cattle

(n=181)

Sheep

for

meat

(n=85)

I currently have the skills and

knowledge required to

manage the property / farm

effectively

63% 57% 75% 62% 56% 63% 56% 69% 47% 45%

I always know where to get the

information or advice that I

need

54% 47% 58% 29% 46% 46% 38% 31% 32% 34%

I can further lower my cost of

production63% 44% 29% 50% 38% 27% 24% 56% 43% 34%

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b) Farmers sources of information, advice and support (Categories)

Source of information, advice and support

Government (PUBLIC)

Research and development corporations/Industry (PUBLIC-

PRIVATE)

Product reseller / farm input suppliers (PRIVATE)

Independent (Fee-for-service) advisers (PRIVATE)

Farmer-owned information, advice and support organisations

(PRIVATE – not for profit)

Processing companies (PRIVATE)

Other NGO – (community/not for profit)

Farmer Groups

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Close to half of grains farmers cited independent advisers as their ‘main source’ of information, advice or support

Q.10. Firstly, do you currently seek out or use information, advice, or support from any of the following sources? Q11. And of those sources that you areusing, which would you say is the MAIN, or the source of information, advice, or support that has had the greatest impact on your farming and businessoperations?Base: All Grains Respondents (n=247)

Sources where farmers obtained information, advice or support

Product re-sellers / farm inputsuppliersResearch and developmentcorporations

Farmer-owned information, advicesupport organisations

88%16%

83%12%

79%10%

Independent (fee-for-service)advisers

74%49%

Government

Processing companies you supply

Other

67%4%

53%6%

7% Use

3% Use as a main source

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But the national mix for ‘main source’ varied by gross farm income…

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Less than $50K

$50K-$500K

$500K-$1M

$1M-$5M

More than $5M

Main source of information, advice and support by income level

Government

R&D corporation

Product resellers

Independent advisers

Farmer-owned organisations

Processing companies

Other

N=833

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Grains farmers’ average spend on independent advice was justover $13,000 with cropping spending slightly more than mixed

20.In the past year, how many different independent consultants / advisers would you have used?21.In the past year, approximately how much did you pay in total for independent farm management advice? Note: Question asked as categories with values assigned to eachcategory to calculate means.Base: Respondents who have used Independent (free-for-service) advisers (n=650)

$33,438

$13,681$11,375 $11,316 $10,728

$7,443 $6,105 $5,952 $5,663 $4,500

Cotton production

(n=48)

Cropping (grains) (n=127)

Poultry + Pork (n=40)

Mixed -cropping and

grazing (n=57)

Horticulture (n=88)

Beef cattle (n=87)

Sheep for meat (n=43)

Dairy cattle (n=63)

Sugar Cane growing (n=49)

Sheep for wool (n=35)

Average amount spent on Independent farm management advice per annum – by sector

Average number of Independent advisers

used in past year (excluding those who

have not used)

1.8 2.5 2.7 2.2 2.2 2.3 2.1 2.2 1.9 2.3

= statistically significant difference *=low base size

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Across all sources over a third of

grains farmers expected to see a

further increase in their use of

information, support or advice over

the next five years

Expected use of services in the next five years or so

Q.16. Still thinking about your experiences with [INSERT SOURCE FROM Q11], in the next five years or so, do you expect your use of information, support, or advice to be…Base: All Grains Industry Respondents (n=247)

8%

54%

36%More (a lot / a little more)

Same

Less (a lot / a little less)Don’t know 2%

• Just over a third (36%) of grains farmers expected their use of extension services to increase over the next five years,which is significantly higher than for non-grain farmers (29%).

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….and ALL sources support change on Australian farms

Between 78-82% (n=954 farmers) of farmers described changes related to….

...farm practices ...inputs & products

...farm business

…infrastructure, machinery

& equipment

(size of category related to number of comments)

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A focus on change in grains: - changes relating to ‘Crop management’

Cropping (grains)

farmer, WA

Mixed cropping-

grazing farmer, VIC

Mixed cropping-

grazing farmer, QLD

“Firstly it is difficult to

find good information

as much current

research is old hat.

The most recent we

are trialling is the

deep placement of

fertilizer”.

“Changed crop sowing

and establishment

systems to better

match environmental

changes and market

opportunities”.

“All our major changes

are made as a result of

this experience, i.e., a long

time ago direct seeding

and the working up and

back, changing to a tram

line CTF system, deep

tillage and now deep

incorporation”.

Mentions:

Control traffic farming

Crop nutrition – not further described

Crop planning & management

Crop rotations & fellow crops

Crops – new or different

Planting, sowing & harvesting – new techniques

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- Changes related to ‘Monitoring, evaluation & benchmarking’

Mixed cropping-

grazing farmer, Vic

Sheep (for meat)

farmer, WA

Beef cattle farmer,

WA

“Doing financial

analysis and figuring

out which enterprises

are profitable, analysing

them and changing

operations accordingly

based on the figures we

produced”.

“Bench marking my

enterprise against other

growers. I use the

government source of

information for the non-

biased clarity of

information that

DAFWA provides”.

“Attempting to

measure individual

factors affecting

productivity/

profitability”.

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- changes related to ‘irrigation & drainage”

“I am an irrigation

based farmer and I

am now using water

efficient technology

to grow these crops”.

“Recycle systems,

we’ve put in a big

recycle system for

irrigation purposes”.

Cropping (grains) farmer,

NSW

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- changes related to infrastructure/machinery/equipment….

Farmer-owned organisations were over-represented for influencing this type of change

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%Farmer-owned

Government

Independent fee-for-service

Processing companiesProduct resellers

R & D corporations

Other

Sample Changes to infrastructure, machinery & equipment

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14% 58%

11% 52%

14% 51%

20% 45%

11% 41%

32%

28%

26%

24%

16%

6%

9%

4%

3%

2%

Searching for information on the Internet / involvement in webinars

General farm media sources / news (TV, radio, newspapers, newsletters)

Talking to other farmers at social or farming events

Paying for advice / expertise

Attending field days, workshops, training programs

Talking directly with a researcher or expert on the phone / in-person

Involvement in farm discussion groups / farming systems groups

Participating in on-property / farm trials and demonstrations

Attending farming or agricultural conferences

Using social media

Use

Preferred

Mediums and methods grains

farmers use for information,

advice and support

Only those with 10% or more are shown

Methods used to get the information, advice and support

18.What methods do you use to get the information, advice and support that you need to makedecisions in managing your farm / property, or just to learn more about an area?19. Of these sources, which is your most preferred?Base: All Grain Industry Respondents (n=247)

Farmer groups

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c) Methods advisers use to keep up to date? (National sample)

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Very

important

80%

Fairly

important

17%

Indifferent

2%

Unimportan…

Keeping up to date with the latest research was important and a range of sources of information were referenced

Importance of keeping up to date with

the latest research*

1%

4%

3%

5%

6%

20%

11%

11%

11%

23%

20%

26%

30%

46%

48%

60%

62%

65%

65%

66%

Advisor networks (e.g. APEN)

International sources

Farmer-owned extension services…

Private companies / product information /…

Own farming clients or other farmers

Own organisation/internal information

Technical experts (e.g. agronomists,…

Government departments

Australian Research organisations

Rural Research and Development…

Sources of Information Main Source of Information

Sources of information

Q29 - How important to you is keeping up to date with the latest research related to agriculture?

*Online Only

Base: All Employee and Sole Operators (n=265)

Q30 - To keep up to date with the latest research related to your role, what types of organisation do

you go to?

Q31 - And what is your main source of information?


Only codes with 5% or more (Sources of

Information) have been shown here

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Advisers used similar methods to farmers to gain information and knowledge…

Q32 - Which is your most preferred method for gaining information and knowledge to support the work you do with farmers?


Most preferred method for gaining information and knowledge to support the work done with farmers

10%

10%

12%

14%

16%

16%

Talking directly with a researcher

or expert

Rural research and development

corporations

Reading research reports /

journal articles

Talking to technical experts or

advisers at events

Internet / involvement in

webinars

Field days, workshop or training

programs

Only codes with 5% or more have been shown here

Farming groups

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d) How connected are advisers to the RD&E system?

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Approx. 45% of advisers were rarely or not involved in the agricultural research, development and extension system

Extent of involvement with Australia’s agricultural research, development and extension system (n=365)

Q36 - To what extent are you involved or consulted in setting research priorities related to your area of expertise (i.e. in national, regional or industry research priorities)?

Q38 - To what extent are you currently involved with, or consulted by, agricultural industry, government or research bodies in translating research outputs so they are relevant to farmers /

your clients?

Q39 - To what extent are you currently involved with, or consulted in the design, development or delivery of extension projects or programs of government, research or industry bodies?


14%

16%

13%

18%

18%

22%

22%

28%

24%

25%

21%

25%

21%

18%

16%

Design and delivery of extension projects or

programs of government, research or industry

bodies

Translating research outputs so they are

relevant to farmers / clients

Setting research priorities relevant to

individual's area of expertise

Heavily involved Moderately involved Somewhat involved Rarely involved Not involved

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But they want to be: Over 70% desire a lot/some more involvement with agricultural research, development and extension

Desire to be involved in various activities:

Q40 - And to what degree would you like to be involved in each of the following activities


25%

24%

24%

32%

38%

42%

42%

40%

30%

31%

30%

25%

4%

2%

3%

2%

3%

2%

2%

1%

Involved in design, development and

delivery of extension projects /

programs

Discussions / input around research

priorities

Translation of research outputs

Invitations to be kept up to date on

extension programs and projects

A lot more Some more No more or less Less A lot less

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What does all this mean?

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Implications and opportunities for Farming groups (1)

Farmer groups are able to bring together the range of advisory groups and organisations at a local level.

This is “innovation brokering”.

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Implications and opportunities for Farming groups (2)

Farmer groups help independent fee-for service advisers:

• Share knowledge in a non-threatening environment with other advisers and farmers

• Keep connected to new research and development

• Maintain a ‘whole farm system’ perspective for any product, service or advice they may provide.

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Implications and opportunities forFarming groups (3)

Farmer groups were those mentioned by most advisory organisations for future collaboration and co-operation related to information, advice and support for farmers

Grower groups appear to provide much of the local/on-ground information and support “soft-infrastructure” that farmers seek – and this helps industry and government achieve their goals.

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Conclusion: The future of farmer groups? Key questions

The farmer group role is relevant and important for members and the wider “innovation system”

1. Is this role acknowledged and clear?

2. Is there emerging competition from others for this role?

3. Are there opportunities for efficiencies/effectiveness for farmer groups taking on a stronger role/changing the role?

4. Are there collaborations or partnerships for farmer groups that “make more sense”? (e.g. farm management consultants/machinery providers/product re-sellers)?

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Acknowledgements

All the farmers and advisers attending forums and responding to the surveys

Quantum Market Research: Survey administration and reporting

Dr Erin Smith, University of Melbourne: Qualitative data analysis

Nhan La, University of Melbourne: Quantitative data analysis

To cite data from this presentation: University of Melbourne (2017), Milestone 3-Activity 4 Quantify farm demand for services and the value placed on advice by farmers, Report submitted to Rural R&D for profit program as part of the ‘Stimulating private sector extension to increase returns from R&D’ project, May, 2017. Rural Innovation Research Group, Melbourne.

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References

Birner, R., K. Davis, J. Pender, E. Nkonya, P. Anandajayasekeram, J. Ekboir, A. Mbabu, et al. 2009. “From Best Practice to Best Fit: A Framework for Designing and Analyzing Pluralistic Agricultural Advisory Services Worldwide.” The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension 15 (4): 341–355

Klerkx, L., & Leeuwis, C. 2008. Matching demand and supply in the agricultural knowledge infrastructure: Experiences with innovation intermediaries. Food Policy, 33, 260–276

Mullen, J. D., Vernon, D. and Fishpool, K. I. 2000, 'Agricultural extension policy in Australia: Public funding and market failure' in The Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, vol. 44, no. 4, pp. 629-645

Nettle, R. (2017) Workshop Paper: Farmers Adopting and farmers benefitting from R&D – where are we now? Paper prepared for the Annual Forum: “Stimulating private-sector extension to increase returns from R&D, Metropolis, Melbourne, held on 17th

May, 2017.

Pannell, D.J. and Marsh, S.P. (2013). Public-sector agricultural extension: what should it look like in 10 years? Farm Institute Insights, Vol. 10, No. 1, February 2013

Prager, K, Labarthe, P, Caggiano, M, Lorenzo-Arribas, A. (2016) How does commercialisation impact on the provision of farm advisory services? Evidence from Belgium, Italy, Ireland and the UK. Land Use Policy, 52, 329-344.

Prager, K., R. Creaney, and A. Lorenzo-Arribas. 2017. “Criteria for a System Level Evaluation of Farm Advisory Services.” Land Use Policy 61: 86–98

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