Tony Dunn, Michael Friend and Shane Hildebrand

Preferred presentation format: unrefereed Paper

Affiliation: School of Agriculture, Charles Sturt University

Title: Mr Tony Dunn Position: Senior Lecturer in Extension and Agricultural Systems Organisation: Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW Contact Email: adunn@csu.edu.au Contact Phone:02 69332385

Keywords: Action research, extension theory, extension model, dairy farmer

An extensive farmer–driven extension project involving NSW dairy farmers groups, universities and NSW Agriculture has produced learning and farmer research outcomes for all participants.

The Profitable Pastures Program (PPP) was conceived in an action research paradigm where the parties participated in farmer driven on-farm research. The outcomes were described and evaluated using action learning and on-farm trials. Although the program’s results are published elsewhere, a definitive analysis of outcomes using extension theory has not been done.

This paper uses extension and farming systems models to discuss the program’s outcomes and what was learnt by extensionists and researchers about farmers’ research. The conclusions are that top-down extension models will continue to matter for some people and institutions, but that learner centred (farmer-first) approaches can work to hand power and responsibility to farm family members and farmer groups.

Key learning points:

• Application of action learning to farmer driven research
• Learning and on-farm research outcomes in a farmer driven silage study
• Extending extension thinking using action research
• Evaluating action research with extension models