Detailed Record



Understanding farmers’ adoption of diversified crop rotations in South Dakota, USA: an examination of the roles of sense of place and social responsibility


Abstract Diversified crop rotations can be a win-win solution for farmers and society given increased agronomic yield and improved ecosystem services. However, the adoption of sustainable production practices must be widespread and accelerated to create resilient agroecosystems that can remain productive as the climate changes. In this paper, we use modified measures of sense of place (SOP) and social responsibility (SR) to investigate the factors that influence the adoption of diversified crop rotations (DCR) among producers in South Dakota (SD). Data was collected from 34 SD counties east of the Missouri River. Through the application of exploratory factor analysis (EFA), we identified 3 constructs of SOP on working landscapes 1) place attachment and identity, 2) social networks, and 3) physical place dependence. Using a binary logistic regression, a positive association between the adoption of DCR and place attachment and identity was found. This suggests that farmers have an emotional bond to their land that plays a role in their usage of DCR. Our results suggest that measuring some dimensions of SOP in a working landscape context is important, but needs more refinement, specifically economic dependence, given that the items measuring it did not emerge as a factor in the EFA.
Authors Edem Avemegah ORCID , Elizabeth Bennett ORCID , Jessica D. Ulrich‐Schad ORCID , Tong Wang ORCID , Weston M. Eaton University of WyomingORCID , Heidi L. Sieverding ORCID , Shaina Westhoff , David E. Clay ORCID
Journal Info Taylor & Francis | Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems , pages: 1 - 27
Publication Date 5/7/2024
ISSN 2168-3565
TypeKeyword Image article
Open Access closed Closed Access
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2024.2346794
KeywordsKeyword Image Livelihood Diversification (Score: 0.517006)