Value orientations and the adoption of new farm practices : a study of farmers' attitudes towards irrigation in Southern Manitoba

Abstract

This study is part of an Interdisciplinary Study of Water Resources and Water Utilization in Western Canada, conducted by the University of Manitoba, under the auspices of the Department of Energy, Mines and Natural Resources. The general purpose of this study was to attempt to evaluate the attitudes of farm operators of the Pembina River Basin towards the adoption of new farm practices such as irrigation. The study consisted of two sections: (i) a study of the communication process in relation to the adoption of new recommended farm practices, (ii) a study of value orientations in relation to the adoption of new recommended farm practices. This section of the study was primarily concerned with an investigation of the relationship between seven value orientations, seen as elements of attitude, and the adoption of new farm practices recommended by the Provincial Agricultural Representative. The value orientations investigated were Achievement, Rationality, Belief in Science, Innovation Proneness, Familism, Traditionalism, and Security. An investigation was also made of the relationship between age, level of living, gross farm income, and education on one hand, and the adoption of new farm practices on the other. The population selected for study consisted of 339 farm operators of the municipalities of Stanley and Rhineland. A random sample consisting of eighty-five farm operators chosen from this population was successfully interviewed...