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Agricultural extension policy in Australia: the good, the bad, and the misguided

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  • Marsh, Sally P.
  • Pannell, David J.

Abstract

In most states of Australia, agricultural extension policies and practices have increasingly been based on considerations of private/public goods, user pays and cost recovery. In addition, the delivery of extension has been strongly influenced by changing administrative structures and a change in the paradigm within which the extension community operates. These changes have had major impacts, including more extension being delivered by the private sector. There are positive aspects to the changes and, for some issues, they are appropriate. However, we have a number of reservations, particularly about the effectiveness of current extension systems in assisting the adoption of complex environmental and farming system technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Marsh, Sally P. & Pannell, David J., 2000. "Agricultural extension policy in Australia: the good, the bad, and the misguided," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 44(4), pages 1-23.
  • Handle: RePEc:ags:aareaj:117854
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.117854
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. 232 – Agricultural extension in 10 years
      by David Pannell in Pannell Discussions on 2013-02-22 10:05:03

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    5. Curtis L. Rollins & Stephanie R. Simpson & Peter C. Boxall, 2018. "Evaluating an Agricultural Extension Program Aimed at Improving Biodiversity in Alberta, Canada," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 66(2), pages 331-353, June.
    6. Julie Ingram & Jane Mills & Jasmine E. Black & Charlotte-Anne Chivers & José A. Aznar-Sánchez & Annemie Elsen & Magdalena Frac & Belén López-Felices & Paula Mayer-Gruner & Kamilla Skaalsveen & Jannes , 2022. "Do Agricultural Advisory Services in Europe Have the Capacity to Support the Transition to Healthy Soils?," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-26, April.
    7. Hunt, Warren & Birch, Colin & Vanclay, Frank & Coutts, Jeff, 2014. "Recommendations arising from an analysis of changes to the Australian agricultural research, development and extension system," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 129-141.
    8. Pannell, David J., 2001. "Dryland salinity: economic, scientific, social and policy dimensions," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 45(4), pages 1-30.
    9. Cook, Brian R. & Satizábal, Paula & Curnow, Jayne, 2021. "Humanising agricultural extension: A review," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    10. Wheeler, Sarah Ann, 2008. "What influences agricultural professionals' views towards organic agriculture?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(1), pages 145-154, March.
    11. Daniel Francois Meyer, 2019. "An Assessment Of The Importance Of The Agricultural Sector On Economic Growth And Development In South Africa," Proceedings of International Academic Conferences 9912288, International Institute of Social and Economic Sciences.
    12. Doris Läpple & Thia Hennessy, 2015. "Assessing the Impact of Financial Incentives in Extension Programmes: Evidence From Ireland," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 66(3), pages 781-795, September.
    13. Mullen, John D. & Vernon, Don & Fishpool, Ken I., 2000. "Agricultural extension policy in Australia: public funding and market failure," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 44(4), pages 1-17.
    14. Pannell, David J., 2001. "Dryland Salinity: Inevitable, Inequitable, Intractable?," 2001 Conference (45th), January 23-25, 2001, Adelaide, Australia 125811, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society.
    15. Malcolm, Bill & Paine, Mark, 2007. "Social benefit cost analysis of Dairy Moving Forward extension activity," AFBM Journal, Australasian Farm Business Management Network, vol. 4(1-2), pages 1-10.
    16. Kjesbu, Erland & Flaten, Ola, 2005. "Perceptions and Impacts of FRAM-A: A Norwegian Farm Business Development Programme," 15th Congress, Campinas SP, Brazil, August 14-19, 2005 24294, International Farm Management Association.
    17. Cock, James & Oberthür, Thomas & Isaacs, Camilo & Läderach, Peter Roman & Palma, Alberto & Carbonell, Javier & Victoria, Jorge & Watts, Geoff & Amaya, Alvaro & Collet, Laure & Lema, Germán & Anderson,, 2011. "Crop management based on field observations: Case studies in sugarcane and coffee," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 104(9), pages 755-769.
    18. Tong, De & Sun, Yiyu & Tang, Junqing & Luo, Zhenying & Lu, Jinfeng & Liu, Xuan, 2023. "Modeling the interaction of internal and external systems of rural settlements: The case of Guangdong, China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    19. Elizabeth H. Petersen & Steven Schilizzi & David Bennett, 2002. "The impacts of greenhouse gas abatement policies on the predominantly grazing systems of South-western Australia," International and Development Economics Working Papers idec02-9, International and Development Economics.
    20. George W. Norton & Jeffrey Alwang, 2020. "Changes in Agricultural Extension and Implications for Farmer Adoption of New Practices," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(1), pages 8-20, March.
    21. Ross Kingwell & Michele John & Michael Robertson, 2008. "A review of a community-based approach to combating land degradation: dryland salinity management in Australia," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 10(6), pages 899-912, December.
    22. Alison Sheridan & Lucie Newsome, 2021. "Tempered disruption: Gender and agricultural professional services," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(3), pages 1040-1058, May.
    23. Vaughan Higgins, 2006. "Re-Figuring the Problem of Farmer Agency in Agri-Food Studies: A Translation Approach," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 23(1), pages 51-62, March.
    24. Robin Johnson & George E. Rossmiller & Frances Sandiford‐Rossmiller, 2003. "Ag econ angst crisis revisited," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 47(2), pages 261-274, June.

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