Farm Youth Research Articles

Projects that Support Young Family Farmers Case of National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC)

Family farming includes all family-based agricultural activities, and it is linked to several areas of rural development. Family farming is a means of organizing agricultural, forestry, fisheries, pastoral and aquaculture production which is managed and operated by a family and predominantly reliant on family labour, including both women’s and men’s. Youth have a positive role to play as the future of family farming. There are several ongoing projects aimed at involving youth in family farming, in general, and sustainable family farming in particular. This paper aims to outline the role played by the National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) in enhancing youth in family farming. It discusses the mission and strategies adopted by the NYFC (which is funded by individuals, foundations and businesses investing in the future of farming in America) for engaging young farmers to ensure their success. Also, this presentation gives description of selected stories of young farmers. In terms of methodology, secondary data (collected from various sources, including books, research reports, journal articles, Internet resources, etc.) have been analyzed using descriptive research method. Most of the data presented are qualitative in nature. The paper concludes that there are several ongoing projects aimed at involving youth in family farming, in general, and sustainable family farming, in particular. The NYFC is an innovative initiative in this direction. It is a national network of young farmers, ranchers, and supporters fighting to create opportunity for young people in sustainable agriculture in the United States. Today’s beginning farmers struggle with daunting barriers to entry, including: (a) access to land and credit, (b) lack of health insurance coverage, and (c) often tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt. The NYFC works for young farmers by strengthening their social networks, helping them hone their skills through the facilitation of peer-to-peer learning, and fighting for the policies that will keep them farming for a lifetime.

Kualifikasi Pemuda Tani Perdesaan di Jawa Timur

<p><em>This research objectives are</em><em>:</em><em> (1) to analyze characteristics </em><em>and </em><em>qualification of the </em><em>farmer</em><em> youth</em><em>, (2) to explain the implication of famer youth qualification</em><em>. The research population </em><em>are</em><em> all youth in East Java. The technique of data collecting </em><em>was</em><em> cluster sampling. The number </em><em>of </em><em>respondent</em><em>s</em><em> are 251 of youth. The descripti</em><em>ve</em><em> </em><em>and c</em><em>orrespondency data analysis</em><em> was </em><em>used </em><em>to analyse the data</em><em>. The research results were: (1) The degree of </em><em>farmer</em><em> youth education is low category (2) The qualification of </em><em>farmer</em><em> youth that have activity in agricultural sector is lower than rural youth that have activity in non agricultural sector</em><em>, (3) Farmer youth need facilitation to grow and develop their competencies.</em></p><p><em></em><em><br /></em></p>

Korean Agricultural Workforce Problems and Alternative Measures

As the share of agriculture in Korean economy has been decreasing since the 1970s, the Korean agricultural workforce has also declined and agricultural workers in their twenties and thirties have become scarce. Recent Korean agricultural labor productivity is stagnant in growth. Since the 1980s, Korea has been trying to secure young generation in the agriculture sector and rural areas by launching new programs such as Farm Successor Fostering Program (1981), Korea National Agricultural College (1997), and Special Agricultural Program in Agricultural Schools (2006). While each program has its own outcomes, the greying of Korean farmers is likely to continue because of less favorable public perceptions of agriculture, farm youth decrease, old farm retirement and entry, and agricultural school graduates’ scarce entry into farming. In order to solve these problems, this study suggested the following measures: activating education about agriculture; fostering selected agricultural high schools; strengthening the role of agricultural colleges in fostering agricultural workforce; linking retiring farmers and new farmers through farm corporations; launching intermediate organizations in charge of regional agricultural workforce; and supporting capital formation of young farmers.

English

The study investigated the youth participation in indigenous farm practices of vegetable production in Oyo State. The study specifically identified various indigenous farm practices that youth engage in and their level of participation. The study was conducted in four agricultural zones in the State namely Ibadan/Ibarapa, Oyo, Ogbomoso and Saki zones. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select respondents from the four zones. In all, a total of 200 youths were sampled in 10 communities. The findings revealed that the respondents mean age was 28.6 ± 3.8 years with an average of 18.2 years of farming experience. The various indigenous practices used by youth in the study area include handpicking (88%), hawking (87%), land clearing/hoeing (86%), ridge making (68%), seasonal planting (81%), manure application (82%), use of ash (67%), wetting/irrigation (63%), harvesting (71%) and use of natural pesticides (52%). There exist positive and significant correlation between level of participation and years of formal schooling (r=0.429; p<0.05), compatibility (r=0.042; p≤0.05), cosmopoliteness (r=0.208; p<0.05), resources availability (r=0.191; p<0.05), openness (r=0.216; p<0.05) and users’ friendliness (r=0.171; p<0.05). There also existed strong association between level of perception of youths towards organic farming practices for indigenous vegetables and sex (χ²=121.335; p<0.05), land acquisition (χ²=305.327; p<0.05) and marital status (χ²=275.514; p<0.05). The study concluded that youths had been going through a process of socialization right from their early age for the skill acquisitions in some indigenous farm practices that are part of farm operations in the study area. This could be further reinforced by formal education and farming experience in their latter age for a sustainable agricultural development.   Key words: Indigenous farming practices, youth and vegetable production.

An Evaluation of UV-Monitoring Enhanced Skin Cancer Prevention Among Farm Youth in Rural Virginia

Background: Health districts in southwest Virginia have one of the highest ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure and sunburn rate. Due to higher levels of UV exposure, rural farm youth are at higher risk for skin cancer than non-farm youth. Few studies have been published that explore best practices for decreasing UV exposure among this population. Purpose: This 5-week study assessed the effectiveness of a health promotion intervention including a UV monitoring device in decreasing UV exposure among youth. Methods: A mixed methods research design (focus groups and a pretest-posttest one-group design) set in rural southwest Virginia, long tied to the agricultural sector, was used. Youth ages 14 to 16 (93.5% white, 87.1% female) participated in the 4-unit (90-minute each) intervention based on the Health Belief Model (n = 31). It also incorporated a user-friendly UV monitoring device. Results: Participants' knowledge of factors related to skin cancer (p < .001), skin protection attitude (p < .05), and likelihood of engaging in protection practices increased significantly (p < .05). Female participants' positive tanning perception was reduced (p < .05). Participants were satisfied with the functions of the monitoring device but found the bulky design unattractive. Discussion: This tailored health promotion intervention with a UV monitoring device was effective for rural youth. Translation to Health Education Practice: The health belief model is an effective model for framing a skin cancer prevention/UV exposure intervention for this population.

Farm, place and identity construction among Irish farm youth who migrate

While studies of rural young people's relationship to place continue to provide illuminating insights into experiences of belonging and identity construction, this paper specifically focuses on farm youth to explore the connection between involvement in the farm and its influence on their relationship and connection with their local community. The paper is based on qualitative narrative research with a group of thirty university students who grew up on the farm but are highly unlikely to pursue farming as a career or return to the farm. Their farm experiences reflect different levels of farming engagement since their childhood. The paper outlines how the nature of roles and farm involvement inform wider social recognition and identifications, which significantly shape their connections with the places they were ‘born and bred’. Early farm role allocations into ‘worker/'helper’ positions are shown to influence interactions with the wider locality and farming community and have a distinct impact on how young people build their identities. The findings of this research show that the kinds of gendered work roles and farm involvement while growing up influenced their wider social recognition and identifications, which significantly shaped and continues to shape their feelings of connection to where they were ‘born and bred’. Despite having moved to urban locations – and relatively varied ‘internal’ relationships with farm/rural community culture – a more abstract ‘rural’ identification persists in opposition to a negatively imagined external urban ‘other’. A key conclusion from this is that young people from this background, who are socially and spatially mobile, continue to affirm farm identities as they build a life away from their homeplace and local community.

Credit, risk and market orientations of the rural farming youth of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan

com ABSTRACT : Farming has been the mainstay of India for centuries. But, of late, reluctance is observed among youth to enter the farming sector. At the same time the youth unemployment rates in India are on rise. Also, the country is witnessing a mass exodus of youth from villages to cities in the recent years. To restrict this exodus and to mitigate the unemployment rate, development of rural areas is essential and most appropriate action for this is entrepreneurship development. In case of villages, it is the farming sector which can act as potential source of entrepreneurship development. For these rural agripreneurs, needs to be developed. In case of agripreneurship credit, market and risk orientation plays an important role in the development of an agripreneur. Current study is one such attempt to analyze these qualities of rural youth of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. A multistage sampling technique was employed in selection of 100 rural youth respondents each, from both these states. Standard scales were used to measure the variables of the study. A semi structured interview schedule was employed to collect information about background variables. The results of the study revealed that credit and market orientations significantly differed between the states, but no difference in risk orientation was found between the states. The study also reveled that these variables are related to most of the socio-personal, socio- economic and communication variables like age, education, income and mass media exposure.

The Safety of Farm Children and Youth: Understanding Reactions to Proposed DOL Regulatory Changes

University of Minnesota M.S. thesis. December 2012. Major: Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy. Advisor: Jennifer Kuzma. 1 computer file (PDF); vii, 120 pages, appendices A-J.

Involving Fathers in Teaching Youth About Farm Tractor Seatbelt Safety—A Randomized Control Study

Farm youth continue to experience high rates of injury and deaths as a result of agricultural activities. Farm machinery, especially tractors, is the most common cause of casualties to youth. A Roll-Over Protection Structure (ROPS) along with a fastened seatbelt can prevent almost all injuries and fatalities from tractor overturns. Despite this knowledge, the use of seatbelts by farmers on ROPS tractors remains low. This study treats farm safety as a family issue and builds on the central role of parents as teachers and role models of farm safety for youth. This research study used a longitudinal, repeated-measures, randomized-control design in which youth 10-19years of age were randomly assigned to either of two intervention groups (parent-led group and staff-led group) or the control group. Fathers in the parent-led group were less likely to operate ROPS tractors without a seatbelt compared with other groups. They were more likely to have communicated with youth about the importance of wearing seatbelts on ROPS tractors. Consequently, youth in the parent-led group were less likely to operate a ROPS tractor without a seatbelt than the control group at post-test. This randomized control trial supports the effectiveness of a home-based, father-led farm safety intervention as a promising strategy for reducing youth as well as father-unsafe behaviors (related to tractor seatbelts) on the farm. This intervention appealed to fathers' strong motivation to practice tractor safety for the sake of their youth. Involving fathers helped change both father as well as youth unsafe tractor-seatbelt behaviors.

Impact of the Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development (LRAD) Projects on Livelihoods of Beneficiaries in Ngaka Modiri Molema District, South Africa

The fundamental objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development (LRAD) projects on livelihoods of beneficiaries in the Ngaka Modiri Molema district of the North-West Province. Under the ownerships of LRAD beneficiaries, the majority of the projects undertake combinations of livestock, grains and vegetable production. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed on the data collected using structured questionnaire from randomly selected forty-seven LRAD projects in the study area. Graphs, histograms and tables were used to present the results of frequency indicator variables. The results of the analysis showed that some of the key indicator variables were lowly achieved; such as low quality of infrastructure, few skills training, less contribution to food security, poor savings and financial constraints. The positive aspects revealed by the results of the study include: access to sizeable productive agricultural lands; improved participation of women and youth in farming; household supply of food stuffs from the projects; earning of some form of monthly income from farm produce sales; some of the projects, even though small in number, have some good farming infrastructure; through the projects, though grossly inadequate, some have means of transport and farm machinery; the projects created some permanent and temporary jobs; and established some beneficial linkages. An integrated agrarian reform support programme will go a long way in improving productivity of the projects if it consists of a package in support services, rural infrastructure and co-operatives. The main function of such unit should be training, acquisition and distribution of agricultural inputs/equipment to agrarian project beneficiaries and there should also be extension of special grant to support government’s efforts.

Rural Industrialization in Korea: Policy Program, Performance and Rural Entrepreneurship

From the early seventies the Korean Government has adopted a rural industrialization policy as an important measure for promoting rural development. It has been perceived that through this measure the over-concentration of economic activity would be controlled and dispersed. Development of rural industrialization has passed through three different phases: i) the period of promoting rural cottage-type industries (1960-80); ii) the period of rural industrial park establishment; and iii) a stagnation period after the early 1990s. Throughout the overall period government policy changed from an individual project-oriented approach to a diversified and comprehensive policy program. The policy programs, such as the development of rural industrial parks, off-farm income source development and vocational training programs for farm youths, have helped in promoting rural industrialization. On the other hand, policy programs promoting rural out-migration and unbalanced regional development policy have impacted negatively on rural industrialization. Presently one of the serious policy issues facing rural industries is how to secure a young labor force and how to promote rural entrepreneurship. In addition, rural development efforts by local government and authorities are necessary in order to increase investment from urban-based entrepreneur firms. Keywords:Rural industrialization, farm household, off-farm income, rural development, rural industrial park, rural

SWOC Analysis on Precision Farming System

The adoption of precision farming (PF) in India is yet to take a firm ground primarily due to its unique pattern of landholdings, poor infrastructure and lack of farmers’ inclination to take risk, socio-economic and demographic conditions. The study attempted to analyse the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges on PF in the western and north-western zones of Tamil Nadu. Increased crop yield, increased area under cultivation, economised use of water, high economic efficiency, effective and efficient pest management, enhancing bulk procurement of inputs, technical support from stakeholders and sharing of information with the forum members were expressed as major strengths by more than 80% of the respondents. High initial investment cost, additional maintenance cost, lack of technical know-how, no initiative for assessing in-field variations, selectivity in usage of PF technologies (72.50%), requirement of skilled labour, etc., were observed as weaknesses and reported by nearly three-fourth of the sample. Provision of bank loan, availability of subsidies, increased agricultural commodity prices, more free time, attracting the farm youth and improvising of extension services were projected as opportunities of the sample. High cost of water-soluble fertilisers, more time period to realise the return on investment and viability of PF tools for larger enterprises were the challenges expressed by more than half of the sample.

Ethnic and Gender Differences in Farm Tasks and Safety Practices Among Rural California Farm Youth

Agricultural work is hazardous and is common among rural youth, especially those living on farms or ranches. Previous work has shown differences in farm work and injury patterns between boys and girls, but little data exist addressing ethnic differences. This study examined ethnic and gender differences in farm tasks, safety attitudes, and use of protective measures among rural California youth working on farms or ranches. The University of California, Davis Youth Agricultural Injury Study is a longitudinal study focusing on agricultural work experience among youth enrolled in an agricultural sciences curriculum in 10 public high schools in California's Central Valley during the 2001–2005 school years. Using cross-sectional data from the initial entrance survey, we studied 946 participants who reported farm work in the previous year. Median annual hours of farm work varied significantly between boys and girls (p < 0.001) and between ethnic groups (p < 0.05) (Hispanic boys: 624 hr; Hispanic girls: 189 hr; White/Other boys: 832 hr; White/Other girls: 468 hr). Girls and Hispanic students were less likely than boys and White/Other students, respectively, to perform hazardous tasks involving tractors, machinery, and chemicals. Median age for initiating work on selected hazardous tasks was up to 3 years later for Hispanic students. Use of task-appropriate safety measures was low in all groups for most hazardous tasks. Boys were more likely than girls to use task-appropriate safety measures, with the exception of seatbelt use when in a car or truck. Hispanic students were more likely than White/Other students to employ safety measures. Girls and Hispanic youth worked fewer farm hours and had reduced exposure to selected hazardous tasks. Use of task-appropriate safety measures was low for all groups but increased for Hispanic students. Further study should explore reasons for low use of safety measures and develop educational efforts to bring about social norm changes promoting their use.

Lower extremity joint moments during carrying tasks in children.

Farm youth often carry loads that are proportionally large and/or heavy, and field measurements have determined that these tasks are equivalent to industrial jobs with high injury risks. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of age, load amount, and load symmetry on lower extremity joint moments during carrying tasks. Three age groups (8-10 years, 12-14 years, adults), three load amounts (0%, 10%, 20% BW), and three load symmetry levels (unilateral large bucket, unilateral small bucket, bilateral small buckets) were tested. Inverse dynamics was used to determine maximum ankle, knee, and hip joint moments. Ankle dorsiflexion, ankle inversion, ankle eversion, knee adduction, and hip extension moments were significantly higher in 8-10 and 12-14 year olds. Ankle plantar flexion, ankle inversion, knee extension, and hip extension moments were significantly increased at 10% and 20% BW loads. Knee and hip adduction moments were significantly increased at 10% and 20% BW loads when carrying a unilateral large bucket. Of particular concern are increased ankle inversion and eversion moments for children, along with increased knee and hip adduction moments for heavy, asymmetrical carrying tasks. Carrying loads bilaterally instead of unilaterally avoided increases in knee and hip adduction moments with increased load amount.

Urban farming associations, youth and food security in post-war Freetown, Sierra Leone

As skyrocketing global food and energy prices have recently triggered a stream of riots in urban centres across sub-Saharan Africa, underscoring the desperation of urban residents as food becomes unobtainable, cities in the West African country of Sierra Leone face a series of new challenges as the country emerges from a decade of civil war during the 1990s. Focusing on the question of urban food security in and around Sierra Leone’s capital city, Freetown, this paper explores the proliferation of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) as a response to the rising demand for food and employment. In this context, the paper examines a recent upsurge in cooperative activity associated with UPA in Freetown, drawing upon the knowledge and perceptions of those involved in urban farming associations. In seeking to better understand the associational and livelihood strategies of urban residents in the post-war era, the paper highlights how UPA activities are currently driving a resurgence in community-based cooperation, a development which could play an important role in safeguarding livelihoods and urban food security during a particularly critical point in the country’s post-conflict recovery trajectory.

Impact of youth injuries on the uninsured farm family's economic viability

The objective of this study is to estimate the impact of youth injuries on the uninsured farm family's economic viability. Using farm prototypes, we compared farm profits with costs of farm youth injuries. We built profit models for two types of farms, dairy and soybean farms. Then we estimated the cost impact of farm youth injuries of different levels of severity on a farm family with no health insurance. A severe child injury that requires at least 10 days of hospitalisation would cost almost equal to the operating profit of the average dairy farm with no health insurance and would turn the operating profit of the average soybean farm into a severe loss of $99,499. Prevention of child agricultural injuries would significantly improve the financial situation for farm families that lack health insurance.

Farm Youth and Progressive Agricultural Reform: Dexter D. Mayne and the Farm Boy Cavaliers of America

In the early years of the twentieth century, rural America faced a population crisis as young people increasingly left farms for cities. Progressive reformers responded to this crisis with various suggestions meant to more firmly attach youngsters to their rural roots. Among the many solutions advocated were rural youth organizations. The Farm Boy Cavaliers of America, which also enrolled girls, pursued a more innovative path than most, emphasizing not only entertainment and instruction, but also a high degree of economic education and independence for farm children. The program offered an alternative to the Boy Scouts, which Dexter D. Mayne, the organization's founder, believed to be unsatisfactory and inappropriate for farm youth. Ultimately, the organization may have promoted too much freedom for the rural youth, advocating behavior that parents could not approve of or afford in the cash-strapped early days of the century.

Incidence and Cost of Nonfatal Farm Youth Injury, United States, 2001–2006

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to estimate the annual incidence and cost of nonfatal farm youth injury in the United States for the period 2001–2006. The authors used 2001–2006 Childhood Agricultural Injury Survey data to estimate the annual incidence of farm youth nonfatal injury. To estimate the costs for injuries suffered by youth working/living on the farm, the number of injuries was multiplied by published unit costs by body part, nature of injury, and age group. The annual number of nonfatal injuries to youth (ages 0–19) on farms in 2001–2006 was 26,570. The annual cost of nonfatal farm youth injuries was $1 billion (in 2005 dollars), with 26% of costs related to working on the farm and 47% on beef cattle farms. Around 9.3% of the cost was medical costs, 37.2% work and household productivity loss, and 53.5% quality of life loss.

Annual incidence and cost of non-fatal farm youth injury in the United States, 2001–2006

ObjectiveEstimate the annual incidence and cost of non-fatal farm youth injury in the United States for the period 2001–06.MethodsWe used 2001–06 Childhood Agricultural Injury Survey data to estimate the annual...

Convergence between father and youth reports of high risk safety behaviours on the farm

Parents assign dangerous farm work to children. Injury and death rates in the Southern USA are high with 40% of US farm youth fatalities (Adekoya and Pratt, 2001) and 30%...