What May Be Needed to What May Be Needed to Change Farmers’ Change Farmers’

Perception of Using Perception of Using Climate Predictions in Climate Predictions in

Farming DecisionsFarming DecisionsQi S. HuQi S. Hu11, Lisa M. PytlikZillig, Lisa M. PytlikZillig22, Kenneth G. , Kenneth G.

HubbardHubbard11, , Gary D. LynneGary D. Lynne33, and Roger H. Bruning, and Roger H. Bruning22

1. School of Natural Resources1. School of Natural Resources 2. Center for Instructional 2. Center for Instructional

Innovation, and Innovation, and Department of Educational Department of Educational PsychologyPsychology

3. Department of Agricultural 3. Department of Agricultural Economics Economics

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-098768583-0987

““People (and not only People (and not only managers) trust only their own managers) trust only their own understanding of their world understanding of their world as the basis of their actions” as the basis of their actions”

de Geus de Geus (1994)(1994)

(They don’t take actions simply because (They don’t take actions simply because they are told to do so. This is especially they are told to do so. This is especially true for farmers!)true for farmers!)

Farmers are guided by their Farmers are guided by their own “subjective knowledge” in own “subjective knowledge” in determining their actions in determining their actions in familiar farming situations.familiar farming situations.

Largely by overlooking that Largely by overlooking that decision-making nature of decision-making nature of farmers, most expert or farmers, most expert or decision-making support decision-making support systems designed for systems designed for “knowledge transfer” from “knowledge transfer” from researchers to farm decision researchers to farm decision makers have failed! makers have failed! (McCown 2005)(McCown 2005)

How such subjective knowledge is How such subjective knowledge is developed?developed?

Through learning: this learning is Through learning: this learning is notnot from the traditional expert from the traditional expert systems that tell farmers the “best systems that tell farmers the “best solution/decision” for specific solution/decision” for specific situations (assuming farmers situations (assuming farmers should use the solution for their should use the solution for their own good). Rather, this learning is own good). Rather, this learning is through through useuse of research (weather of research (weather and climate) products by and climate) products by intermediaries in situations of intermediaries in situations of farming practice.farming practice.

In these intermediaries In these intermediaries farmers generate their own farmers generate their own experiences of constructing experiences of constructing personal and subjective personal and subjective knowledge that is relevant to knowledge that is relevant to actions for the situation. actions for the situation.

Thus, effective decision Thus, effective decision support must facilitate support must facilitate farmers in constructing new farmers in constructing new knowledge.knowledge.

A model of such a decision A model of such a decision support intervention system to support intervention system to improve farmers’ improve farmers’ understanding and use of understanding and use of climate information and climate information and products in farming decisions products in farming decisions is developed in this study.is developed in this study.

““ThinkAboutIt”ThinkAboutIt”

In this intervention system, farmers are In this intervention system, farmers are put in practical situations (scenarios) put in practical situations (scenarios) and asked to make decisions. In and asked to make decisions. In decision-making, farmers are first decision-making, farmers are first making their decisions as they would making their decisions as they would normally do. Then, they are introduced normally do. Then, they are introduced to various weather and climate products to various weather and climate products and offered text or audio coaching for and offered text or audio coaching for understanding and interpreting the understanding and interpreting the products. Furthermore, farmers have products. Furthermore, farmers have access to “consultant” suggestions as to access to “consultant” suggestions as to how the climate information in the how the climate information in the products may be used in making the products may be used in making the specific farming decision. Farmers can specific farming decision. Farmers can discuss their decision-making with discuss their decision-making with their peers. their peers.

Through these intermediary processes Through these intermediary processes farmers will learn specifics of various farmers will learn specifics of various weather and climate products and their weather and climate products and their usages to specific farming decisions. usages to specific farming decisions. This learning will help farmers in This learning will help farmers in constructing their personal and constructing their personal and subjective knowledge of the climate subjective knowledge of the climate products and building experience of products and building experience of using them in farm decision-making. using them in farm decision-making.

I will introduce this system I will introduce this system and then show its effects from and then show its effects from results obtained from two results obtained from two recent focus-groups in south-recent focus-groups in south-central Nebraskacentral Nebraska

The web address: The web address: http://driftwood.unl.edu/FarmShttp://driftwood.unl.edu/FarmSmartmart

Summary: Summary: A more effective way of transitioning A more effective way of transitioning climate information and knowledge to climate information and knowledge to farmers decision-making is by engaging farmers decision-making is by engaging farmers in learning and constructing farmers in learning and constructing them personal and subjective them personal and subjective knowledge of the climate products and knowledge of the climate products and their usages in various situations. With their usages in various situations. With such knowledge, actions will be taken such knowledge, actions will be taken with more use of climate products in with more use of climate products in farming decisions. farming decisions.