Report from Sociological Working Group Robert E. Jones, Professor University of Tennessee Annabel Kirschner, Professor Emeritus Washington State University SCRI Advisory Committee Meeting, Lubbock TX. June 1, 2011

Sociological Working Group Major Objectives 1.Identify the level of knowledge about HT/BDM production systems among a sample of specialty crop producers in 3 regions of the U.S. 2. Identify potential barriers and bridges in the design, adoption and dissemination of HT/BDM production systems among a sample and potential stakeholders in the 3 regions. 3.Assess the impact of information generated by the sociological and biophysical research designed to increase understanding and support for HT/BDM production systems among a sample of specialty crop growers in 3 regions. 4.Determine the socio-demographic characteristics of the focus group participants and survey respondents to identify/understand any potential group and/or regional differences.

Barriers & Bridges The biophysical, social, cultural, economic, and technical factors that may significantly help or hinder the successful design, adoption and dissemination of HT/BDM agro-systems i.e., current norms and practices of specialty crop producers, and materials and service providers & potential benefits and risks of both high tunnel and BDM technologies.

Overview Year 1 & 2 Conduct Field Demonstration & Focus Groups; administer post- focus group surveys Record, transform, organize, and analyze verbal focus group responses & open & closed-ended survey responses Train recruiters to identify potential participants for focus groups Select, invite, inform & confirm participants Held Project Team and Advisory Meetings Identify Key Public & Private Stakeholders; Discuss Bridges & Barriers Recruit & Select Study Participants HT/BDM Field Demonstrations & Focus Groups Meetings Data Organization, and Analysis Methods

HT/BDM Field Demonstrations University Agricultural Research Centers Washington State, Texas A & M, and Tennessee Two demonstrations and two follow-up focus groups per site Held in conjunction with larger Agricultural Extension Field Day/Tour.

Field Demonstration with Focus Group Participants University of Tennessee-April 2011

Hail Storms, Tennessee

Key Public & Private Stakeholder Groups Use or interested in HT/BDM system Regional or Locally-Based Key Public and Private Stakeholder Groups Specialty Crop Growers i.e., strawberries, watermelons, tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, lettuce Organic---Conventional farmers Newer and older farmers HT & BDM users & non-users Smaller (<20 acres) & larger farms (20 acres or more) Public Agricultural Support Groups Universities & Public Agencies soil, crop, material, social and economic scientists state & local agricultural agents Private Agricultural Support Groups Local Producers of Mulch, Compost, & Equipment and NGOs

Focus Group Meetings Combined Growers, Public and Private Support Groups Two meetings /Region(N = 6) Washington State (2), Texas (2) and Tennessee (2) 80 Invited, 61 Attended (Participation Rate = 76%) Provided Incentives Waived Field Day Registration Fees Honorarium and Lunch Mean = 10/meeting 2 facilitators, 1 ½ Hours, Audio-Taped

Disposition of Participants by State State/GroupInvitedAttended Complete Questionnaire* #%#% Washington Group Group Texas Group Group Tennessee Group Group TOTAL806176%5895% * Percent of those attending

Barriers to Adoption of HT’s & BDM’s Economic—Cost Overall cost of HT: perceived set-up to be as high as $18,000 to $20,000. Replacement of covers: Texas: Concern that covers might not last for 5 years. Tenn.: Hail storm pointed to need for replacement. How expensive to replace & dispose of plastic cover? Cost of commercial BDM’s: Some small growers already using “natural” BDM’s, leaves, hay, newspaper (esp. TN). In general, concerned with pay off of investment.

Barriers to Adoption of HT’s & BDM’s Learning Curve Producers Change from extensive to intensive production. How to put up HT’s with little assistance? How to find providers of HT materials. Need to learn how to control heat in HT’s Flat land to install HT (TN) How to lay down BDM’s—need special tractor? Can only produce a limited number of crops intensively. Consumers Will they buy a product out of season? Will BDM’s be labeled organic?

Barriers to Adoption of BDM’s specifically Trust What is biodegradable—Do they really break down by end of season? Do they last through the season? Impact on Soil What is the long-term impact on soil? Is a 3-year time frame enough to assess [referring to grant]? Do BDM’s build up or degrade the soil? Impact on soil moisture and performance with different types of soil.

Bridges to Adoption of HT’s & BDM’s More control over weather & other factors Work in HT anytime, don’t have to wait for the rain to stop A morale boost to work in HT’s in the winter. More consistency and predictability in harvest. Reduce pest infestations, --deer, rabbits. Less damage from hail and dust. Extended Growing Season Deliver a good product out of season. “If you grow a crop, you want to have a market. If you have it out of season, you’ll have a market.”

Bridges to Adoption of HT’s & BDM’s Variety of Products Grow more exotic/tropical products. Community Building Develop community HT’s and rent out plots or farm as group Help schools develop HT’s for food production. BDM’s: If truly biodegradable, less waste, better for environment. Used with HT’s, could reduce water usage.

Growers’ Pre-Post Knowledge Knowledge ItemPre-MeanPost-Mean Know HTs *** Know HT Barriers *** Know HT Bridges ** Know BDMs *** Know BDMs Barriers *** Know BDMs Bridges ** Know HT/BDMs ** Know HT/BDM barriers *** Know HT/BDMs bridge *** * Pre-Knowledge Items- Q1, Q3 & Q5 [a, b & c]; Post-Knowledge Items-Q2, Q4, Q6 [a, b, &c] Scale- High Mean Scores (7-6); Average Mean Scores (5-3); Low Mean Scores (2-1) Paired-Samples T tests, Significant Levels ** (p <.01) *** (p <.001)

Coming Year Presentations ISSRM Madison WI June 5-9 ISSRM Madison WI Malaysia June Focus Groups Finish compiling findings from focus groups Compare information from different states Survey Create list of survey recipients Use findings from focus groups to prepare survey to send to larger audience. Analysis of findings