Purpose: Farmers face particular challenges with their mental health and wellbeing programmes are necessary resources of support. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the 'On Feirm Ground' farmer mental health training programme targeted at farm advisors in Ireland. Methodology: Between October 2021 and April 2022, 'On Feirm Ground' Trainers…

Purpose: To examine the influence of monitor farm programmes on practice change using the Irish BETTER farm sheep programme as a case study. Methodology: A mixed methods approach combining 16 semi-structured and 69 structured interviews with benchmarking data analysis. Findings: Provision of intensive, tailored advice helped support practice…

Purpose: Applying the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), this paper distinguishes between three groups, advisors, leading farmers and other farmers, and evaluates the extent that these influence farm advisors' intensions to engage with Farmer Health and Safety (FHS) extension activities. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken with…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the uptake of education and training by Irish dairy farmers and how they perceive their training needs to be evolving as their farm business grows and they become employers. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative survey was conducted with 315 dairy farmers, who were randomly selected based on…

Purpose: Farmers experience poor health outcomes and are considered 'hard to reach'. Agricultural advisors ('advisors') are uniquely positioned to support and signpost farmers on health issues. This paper explores the acceptability and terms of reference of a potential health role for advisors, and offers key recommendations for developing a…

Purpose: To systematically develop a farm safety intervention for farmer peer learning groups, to support safe working practice adoption. Design/Methodology/Approach: An iterative, multi-actor process was used, guided by the Intervention Mapping framework and the Socio-Ecological Model. The target peer learning groups were Irish dairy farmer…

Purpose: To explore young peoples' motivation for engaging in agricultural education. Autonomous and controlled forms of extrinsic and intrinsic regulation are discussed regarding young peoples' decision to pursue an agricultural education. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative research approach was applied comprising of purposive and…

Purpose: Understand the emergence of new potential career trajectories in the liberalised Irish dairy farming sector through analysis of the narratives of students of a Professional Diploma in Dairy Farm Management. Design/methodology/approach: A review of the literature highlights that entry to a working life in agriculture has been characterised…

Purpose: This paper examines the role of agricultural advisors in supporting farm families on the complex processes associated with farm succession and inheritance. Design/Methodology/approach: An online survey was conducted of all 256 public sector agricultural advisors in Ireland, examining their role, knowledge, training and support…

Purpose: This article examines the reach, the amount, the content and the quality of agricultural extension in County Laois in Ireland as reported by farmers. It seeks to better understand extension interaction in an Irish county case. Design/Methodology/Approach: A structured questionnaire on personal, farm and farming practices was administered…

Purpose: Employing a theoretical model of human behaviour (COM-B), the current study explores the factors influencing farmers' engagement with grass measurement on Irish dairy farms. Methodology: The current study employed a qualitative research design. One-to-one semi-structured interviews were carried out with 21 dairy farmers. Findings: Factors…

Purpose: This paper argues the rationale for a model of reflective practice in the formation of young agricultural advisors and to use this model to inform a wider discussion on the importance of the different levels of reflection in agricultural extension higher education. Design/methodology/approach: The paper presents a model of four reflective…

Purpose: The impact of agricultural knowledge transfer (KT) is related to the access to and the quality of services available. Within this context, the allocation of resources in terms of KT offices and the number of advisers are important considerations for understanding KT impact. This quantitative study evaluates the impact of KT resources on…

Purpose: This study explores the use of advisory services by farm managers and its linkages with the economic, environmental and social performance of farms. Design/methodology/approach: Using cluster analysis we determined groups of farms according to their sustainability performance and explored the correlations between contacts with advisory…

Purpose: Research on young farmers traditionally focused on the future of the agricultural sector or else compared the innovativeness, efficiency or entrepreneurialism of young to older farmers. By contrast, this paper examines the differences in innovation within young farmers. Methodology: Innovativeness is defined here as the adoption of…