Farmers’ attitudes about farming and the environment: A survey of conventional and organic farmers

Farmers have been characterized as people whose ties to the land have given them a deep awareness of natural cycles, appreciation for natural beauty and sense of responsibility as stewards. At the same time, their relationship to the land has been characterized as more utilitarian than that of others who are less directly dependent on its bounty. This paper explores this tension by comparing the attitudes and beliefs of a group of conventional farmers to those of a group of organic farmers. It was found that while both groups reject the idea that a farmer’s role is to conquer nature, organic farmers were significantly more supportive of the notion that humans should live in harmony with nature. Organic farmers also reported a greater awareness of and appreciation for nature in their relationship with the land. Both groups view independence as a main benefit of farming and a lack of financial reward as its main drawback. Overall, conventional farmers report more stress in their lives although they also view themselves in a caretaker role for the land more than do the organic farmers. In contrast, organic farmers report more satisfaction with their lives, a greater concern for living ethically, and a stronger perception of community. Finally, both groups are willing to have their rights limited (organic farmers somewhat more so) but they do not trust the government to do so.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/83671/1/Sullivan,_S.,_E._McCann,_R._De_Young_&_D._Erickson_(1996)._Farmers_attitudes_about_farming_and_the_environment,_JAEE,_9,_123-143.pd

Focus on Renewable Natural Resources 1989 Annual Report

The bulletin features 20 University of Idaho College of Forestry, Wildlife and Range Sciences research projects. It includes articles about Idaho landowner attitudes regarding hunting and hunters, hunting as a means of population control, the efficacy of erythromycin to control bacterial kidney disease in salmon, projections of the effects of wolf predation, and wood ash as a tool in crop cultivation rather than a costly waste product

Focus on Renewable Natural Resources Fiscal 1986 Annual Report

The bulletin features the Department of Wildland Recreation Management and its focus on the expanding tourism industry in Idaho. Articles discuss the coexistence of tourism and natural resource industries, renovation and expansion of the Taylor Ranch Field Station, the role of researchers in President Reagan's Commission on Americans Outdoors, effects of dredging on game fish, and the use of explosives to study tree root disease

Focus on Renewable Natural Resources 1988 Annual Report

The bulletin features 17 University of Idaho College of Forestry, Wildlife and Range Sciences projects from 1988. Articles range from using GIS gap analysis to prevent endangerment of species to effectively using pesticides to combat grasshoppers to the opening of the biotechnology laboratory

Focus on Renewable Natural Resources 1987 Annual Report

The bulletin examines the facilities used by scientists in the University of Idaho's College of Forestry, Wildlife and Range Sciences. It also discusses research units and cooperatives, cooperative extensions in the state of Idaho, and communications. The bulletin's research highlights include tracking transplanted caribou and artificial intelligence in resource management

Focus on Renewable Natural Resources 1991 Annual Report

The bulletin's cover story discusses the employment of GIS to conduct gap analysis and place nature reserves in the areas in which they will be most effective. Included articles include using sheep grazing in conifer plantations to minimize competition between shrubs and conifer trees, managing riparian zones, using a 5-horsepower skidder to handle small wood, a new recreation management plan in Hells Canyon, and assessing survival probability of Yellowstone grizzlies

Focus on Renewable Natural Resources 1992 Annual Report

The bulletin begins by introducing the Idaho Forest, Wildlife and Range Policy Analysis Group. It also includes articles about: rangeland, focusing on crested wheatgrass and effects of grazing on water quality; forest growth, focusing on nutrient deficiencies in trees and mapping climatic zones; fish, focusing on Chinook salmon and steelhead migration past the four Snake River dams and feeding methods by fish farmers; forest technology in the mill and home; and environmental education

Focus on Renewable Natural Resources Fiscal 1985 Annual Report

The bulletin focuses on the Department of Range Resources, including a history of Range Research at the University of Idaho. Included articles feature a new Wildlife Research Institute to be directed by Maurice Hornocker, cement to wood ratio in particleboards, and proposed investigation of Native American perceptions of national parks

Focus on Renewable Natural Resources 1990 Annual Report

The bulletin is a Continuing Education Outreach Service Special Issue and focuses on softer science than other bulletins in the Focus series. It features 18 articles divided into subsections of regional, national, and international. Included articles are about the meeting of cattle and angler companies to coordinate resource management, a forest soils symposium, Idaho Wolf Recovery, the National Bioenergy Conference, nature preserve management in Asia, and environmental education in Latin America