Niamh Garvey

Project Title: Assessing extension methods to promote uptake of computer based grass budgeting on dairy farms.

Description of the project:

This study will build on work completed as part of another Masters in Agricultural Innovation Support by Paul Newman. His study title was: Using the Innovation-decision process to understand reasons for the low uptake of grass measurement technology on dairy farms. (Newman, 2016). This study will build on Paul Newman’s work and provide further information on the extension methods which are effective in supporting adoption of computer based grass measuring and budgeting and reasons for this. This study is examining uptake of computer based grass budgeting in dairy discussion groups with different levels of individual support available to farmers. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of three distinct extension methods to support adoption of computer based grass budgeting on Irish dairy farms, to provide guidance to extension providers on how to increase the effectiveness of future extension programmes in this area and allow more efficient use of resources. Secondary aims are to increase use of computer based grass budgeting on dairy farms, to assess ways in which this study can be applied to adoption of other technologies and to determine the cost and resource implications of the three extension methods studied.

Location: Teagasc Advisory and Training Centre, Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford

Teagasc Supervisor: George Ramsbottom

UCD Supervisor: Bridget Lynch

Download presentation: Presentation Niamh Garvey (Powerpoint)