Topics for rural social research

This report delineates a range of topics that could be included in MAF social research using mainly the suggestions available in the current sociology literature. Suggestions from five MAF personnel were used to supplement the literature. Both sources lead to a list of topics including the farm and the rural community, international linkages and consumers. In addition, there is a need for research on public opinion. The report suggests that an appropriate research strategy should include the development of a rural data base which is supplemented with farm and community studies using the full array of social science research methods. Agro commodity chains should be examined and rural public opinion regularly surveyed

Digital predictions of complex cylinder packed columns

A digital computational approach has been developed to simulate realistic structures of packed beds. The underlying principle of the method is digitisation of the particles and packing space, enabling the generation of realistic structures. Previous publications [Caulkin, R., Fairweather, M., Jia, X., Gopinathan, N., & Williams, R.A. (2006). An investigation of packed columns using a digital packing algorithm. Computers & Chemical Engineering, 30, 1178–1188; Caulkin, R., Ahmad, A., Fairweather, M., Jia, X., & Williams, R. A. (2007). An investigation of sphere packed shell-side columns using a digital packing algorithm. Computers & Chemical Engineering, 31, 1715–1724] have demonstrated the ability of the code in predicting the packing of spheres. For cylindrical particles, however, the original, random walk-based code proved less effective at predicting bed structure. In response to this, the algorithm has been modified to make use of collisions to guide particle movement in a way which does not sacrifice the advantage of simulation speed. Results of both the original and modified code are presented, with bulk and local voidage values compared with data derived by experimental methods. The results demonstrate that collisions and their impact on packing structure cannot be disregarded if realistic packing structures are to be obtained

Community perception of forest sector development on the New Zealand East Coast : likely and acceptable employment activities, infrastructure and landscape change

Opinion leaders in the Gisborne East Coast community have contrasting views on the likely character and benefits of employment, infrastructure and landscape change arising from forest sector development. The views expressed in the survey suggest that there is a need to address such issues as scale of land conversion, felling practices, and log transportation. There is a need for public education on the extent of downstream processing already being undertaken, and of the extent and benefits of indirect employment created by the sector

Women and Autoimmune Diseases1

Recent evidence indicates that sex hormones may exacerbate autoimmune diseases, particularly in women, by increasing the adjuvant effect of infections

Success factors in new land-based industries

Part of the changing structure of New Zealand agriculture and horticulture includes a move from traditional land uses to new land uses. Not all new land uses, however, become established industries. The research objective of this study was to focus on a wide range of new land-based industries and address the question of why some new industries succeed and why others do not. The research also introduces a relatively new method, the Qualitative Comparative Analysis method, which identifies critical factors in industry success in a way that combines the richness of case studies with the rigour of comparative analysis. Results will be of interest to primary producers seeking to learn from recent experience of new industries, and to policy-makers interested in promoting new land-based industries.Funding for this research was provided by the Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology, via Crop and Food Research under Contract No. C02810 and entitled New Crops

New Zealand farm structure change and intensification

This report presents information about the numbers of farms in New Zealand. The different sources providing such data report very different figures and trends over time, but they all seem to indicate an overall trend of decrease in total farm numbers over the last decades, which appears to be due mainly to a decrease in the numbers of grazing and fattening farms and in the number of arable farms. The distribution of farms by size range over time shows an increase in the proportion of both the smallest and the largest ones, at the expense of the midsized categories. However, different trends can be observed depending on the farm type. The report then explores the change in livestock numbers over time. Thus, during the last 20 years, the main trends consist in an overall decrease in sheep and beef numbers, while dairy and deer numbers increased. To conclude, the report deals with the question of intensification in New Zealand farming systems. It underlines the increase in numbers of cows per hectare and production per cow in the dairy sector, and the increase in lambing rates and carcase weights in the sheep and beef sector. These changes can be linked to the increasing expenditure in agricultural research and development as well as the increasing use of services such as herd testing. Also reported is the growing use of fertilisers in New Zealand agriculture

Characteristics of smallholdings in New Zealand : results from a nationwide survey

This research investigated land use and the social and environmental effects of smallholding. The research was designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of smallholders and smallholdings by means of a nationwide survey. To conduct the survey a sample of 3,934 cases was randomly selected from the smallholding population of 0.04 to 40 hectares in size. The survey derived 947 usable responses with a revised response rate of 28 per cent. Analysis of the survey data was undertaken using three categories of smallholder. This analysis showed some differences between the lifestyler, hobby/smallfarmer and farmer/horticulturalist. There were noticeable differences, for example, in size, number of years of residence and amount of farm experience. However, there were no differences in terms of engagement in productive activities such as livestock and plant production. In further analysis it was found that almost all smallholders intend to plant trees for landscaping or commercial purposes. However, the analysis also showed that smallholders do not voluntarily engage in environmental monitoring and environmentally friendly practices to the same extent as other farmers and growers. In addition, the use of, and intentions to use, organic methods were not as prevalent as that for other farmers and growers. Nevertheless, it was also found that smallholders valued the merits of country life including peace and quiet and clean air. In discussion of the results emphasis is given to production and it is shown that while there appears to be high levels of production on some of the smallholdings the result is skewed by a small number of smallholders with high production income, while a sizable proportion did not report any income. Lack of difference between self declared lifestylers and other smallholders is discussed in terms of the common assumption that lifestylers engage less in farming activities. A discussion of environmental impacts predicts a 'greening' of the landscape due to smallholders' intending to plant various tree varieties

Assessment of New Zealand's forest codes of practice for erosion and sediment control

New Zealand's forest industry has several codes of practice available for erosion and sediment control. This article reviews conditions required for a code of practice to succeed in protecting the environment. Internal conditions – those conditions which are written into a code and can be assessed by reading the document alone – were used to assess the strengths and weaknesses of six of New Zealand's forest codes of practice. The study found that overall, the codes scored highly for objectives, communication, planning and comprehensiveness. However they did not score well for regulatory approach, monitoring, foundations and review process. Some preliminary recommendations were made about the development of future codes of practice based on these results

Understanding why farmers change their farming practices : the role of orienting principles in technology transfer

This report presents results from a qualitative study of sheep, beef and dairy farmers in the Temuka, Geraldine area of the South Island, New Zealand. Farmers' accounts of their farming practices, and how they decide to adopt, or not adopt, innovations are analysed to highlight the key orienting principles that guide their decision making. Farmers in each type of production have different orientations to innovation, in large part reflecting the nature of the industry in which they are located. Sheep and beef farmers emphasise profitability and the need to control risk and to farm safely. Dairy farmers emphasise increasing production, increasing efficiency and control by monitoring production. The results are important for alerting researchers and educationalists to the farmers' point of view in the development of effective extension.Funding for this research was received from the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology. The Lotteries Board supported the research by providing technical equipment. The former New Zealand Institute for Social Research and Development initiated this project and it was continued by the AERU in November, 1994