Wyoming Alfalfa Farmers’ Insect Pest Management Decision Making: Expertise, Experience, and the Importance of Neighbors

• In Event: 2353 - Rural Sociology

Abstract

Drawing on data from four focus groups with alfalfa famers conducted in Spring 2014 and 2015 in four counties in Wyoming, we seek to understand how farmers make decisions about insect pest management. In particular, we examine where they learn and seek information, and how they consider expert information as compared with their neighbor’s, relatives, and their own experiences in making pest management decisions. Our results reveal that in order to be useful, expert information needed to be local and to consider the complex realities of farming. Information was deemed not useful when it focused on only one variable, without considering the complex realities faced by farmers who had to juggle the weather, water availability and rainfall, insect pests, weeds, and their buyers among other factors. Weed & Pest and Extension professionals, especially those who had deep roots in the community, were seen as valuable and trusted sources of information, especially for diagnostic purposes. Chemical companies and co-op representatives on the other hand received more mixed treatment. They were viewed as important sources of information, unsurprisingly about chemicals, but growers also expressed that their interests (in selling products) may bias the type of information and advice they provided. Our results extend the literature in rural sociology on farmers by underscoring the reflexive nature of farmers’ information seeking and utilization, and the primary actors whom they consult.

Authors

• Shiri Noy, University of Wyoming

• Randa Jabbour, University of Wyoming