2023 journal article
Toward the Adoption of New Farming Systems among Farmers: A Case study of Short Rotation Woody Crops in North Carolina
JOURNAL OF EXTENSION, 61(1).
open access via tigerprints.clemson.edu (publisher PDF)
UN Sustainable Development Goal Categories
7. Affordable and Clean Energy
(Web of Science)
13. Climate Action
(Web of Science)
Source: Web Of Science
Added: July 3, 2023
This study explores the human dimensions of the broad-based adoption of Short Rotation Woody Crops (SRWCs) among farmers in North Carolina. We used an actor diagramming and tracing approach to explore factors influencing farmers’ adoption of SRWCs. Results suggest four factors strongly influence the adoption process: 1) market availability, 2) education awareness, 3) funding, and 4) social networking. Based on these results, we recommend that Extension professionals use the following education modules to prompt the adoption of SRWCs practices and potentially adopt other new farming practices: 1) ecological sustainability, 2) financial considerations, 3) harvesting, and 4) community building.