Projects in the Natural Environment
Agriculture
Social research associated with agriculture often involves landholders, farmers, rural communities and other stakeholders and interest groups. Research has included assessments of the impacts of policy changes and the impacts of new development and infrastructure proposals on farmers, landholders and rural communities. In addition research has also focussed on issues associated with capacity building and the evaluation of farm extension programs and has included a diverse range of qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Research with rural communities, farmers and landholders can be found in numerous other projects undertaken by EBC as indicated elsewhere on this website. However several core research projects with an emphasis on agriculture have been identified below.
Recent Reports and Publications
- Monitoring economic and social changes in the water sharing plan areas in NSW (2007).
- The social implications of permanent water trading in the Loddon Campaspe irrigation region (2006).
- An evaluation of the impact of farming systems groups: Preliminary report on phase one interviews (2006).
- Landholder property mapping: North of the Tully River (Corduroy Creek to Tully High School) (2005).
- Landholder property mapping: South of the Tully River (Corduroy Creek to Tully High School) (2005).
- Development of a framework for social impact assessment in the Living Murray with particular reference to the Murray Irrigation Area of NSW (2003).
- Social change and agricultural extension: A Conceptual framework and research methodology (2001).
- Social assessment of the Margaret River (WA) Wine industry (2001).
- Social assessment of the Riverlands (SA) Wine industry (2001).
- Social assessment survey of irrigators in the Burnett WAMP Region (2000).
- The social impacts of dairy industry deregulation and water reform on dairy farmers in the Bega Valley (1999).
- Framework and review of capacity and motivation to change towards sustainable management practices: Australian Land and Water Audit Project 6.2.1 (1999).
- Capacity of and opportunity for farmers and other land managers to implement change at the property, community and regional levels (1999).
- Revaluing the west: Attitudes and values of stakeholders in the Western Division’s (NSW) future (1999).
- The value of water: Attitudes towards farm water supply amongst farmers in Western Australia (1993).
- Knowledge and attitudes of market gardeners and the general public towards groundwater issues (1990).
- Attitudes of landowners towards subdivision and development in Landsdale (1989).