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Notes From The Editorial Office (Volume 35, Issue 2), John J. Green, Elizabeth Young Sweeney Dec 2020

Notes From The Editorial Office (Volume 35, Issue 2), John J. Green, Elizabeth Young Sweeney

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

As the year 2020 draws to a close, we are pleased to share this collection of articles in Volume 35, issue 2 of the Journal of Rural Social Sciences (JRSS). Addressing topics including energy, sustainable agriculture, well-being among aging populations, and survey methods, they showcase the scholarly rural-focused work important for shaping the future.


Cost-Benefit And Acceptance Analysis Of Alternative Nematode Control Practices On Organic Dairy Goat Farms: A Case Study In France, Sylvain Quiédeville, Hervé Hoste, Yves Le Frileux, Spiridoula Athanasiadou, Steffen Werne, Simon Moakes Dec 2020

Cost-Benefit And Acceptance Analysis Of Alternative Nematode Control Practices On Organic Dairy Goat Farms: A Case Study In France, Sylvain Quiédeville, Hervé Hoste, Yves Le Frileux, Spiridoula Athanasiadou, Steffen Werne, Simon Moakes

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

This article assesses the costs, benefits, and acceptance of alternative control practices of Gastro-Intestinal Nematodes (GIN) for a typical organic dairy goat farm in France. A participatory Structured-Decision-Making (SDM) framework was used to guide focus group discussions, with an economic farm model and the Rogers and planned behavior theories used within the SDM framework. The study showed that the implementation of alternative GIN control practices can be economically profitable. An increased gross margin of €41 per dairy goat was calculated, which was mainly due to a decrease in the milk withdrawal cost. The simplicity to use or implement the alternative …


Does A Web-First Tailored Design Method Work With Rural Populations?, Dylan C. Martinez, Kelly Way, Zola Moon, Timothy Killian, Betsy Garrison Nov 2020

Does A Web-First Tailored Design Method Work With Rural Populations?, Dylan C. Martinez, Kelly Way, Zola Moon, Timothy Killian, Betsy Garrison

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

Considering rural populations are historically difficult to reach, an important component of this research revolves around improving survey techniques in rural areas. To address this issue, a web-first Tailored Design Method (TDM), utilizing a mixed-mode of internet and postal mail surveys, was adapted to research the quality of life experienced by rural families. Aided by the Iowa State University Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology – Survey Research Services, data were collected from 62 rural counties in Arkansas. Socioeconomic-demographic factors were examined regarding survey response mode (i.e. mail vs. web) with some differences found. Logistic regression results demonstrated males were …


Well-Being Among Older Adults In Mississippi: Exploring Differences Between Metropolitan, Micropolitan, And Noncore Rural Settings, Carolyn E. Adams-Price, Joshua J. Turner, Margaret Ralston Sep 2020

Well-Being Among Older Adults In Mississippi: Exploring Differences Between Metropolitan, Micropolitan, And Noncore Rural Settings, Carolyn E. Adams-Price, Joshua J. Turner, Margaret Ralston

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

It is a common belief that older adults in rural areas have high subjective well-being, despite often experiencing greater poverty and having access to fewer resources than older adults who live in urban areas, a phenomenon sometimes referred to as the “rural-urban paradox.” However, research does not consistently find high well-being in rural areas, which might be due to research not distinguishing between very rural and semi-rural (or small town) settings. This study compares the subjective well-being of older adults in micropolitan and noncore counties with the well-being of older adults in metropolitan areas in Mississippi (n = 659). Preliminary …


Southern Rural Sociological Association Statement On The 2020 Census, Southern Rural Sociological Association Officers Aug 2020

Southern Rural Sociological Association Statement On The 2020 Census, Southern Rural Sociological Association Officers

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

The Southern Rural Sociological Association joins the Rural Sociological Society and numerous other organizations in calling for the necessary time to conduct an accurate Census. (This statement was originally released in August 2020 prior to completion of the 2020 Census.)


Explaining Popular Support For Wind Energy In The United States, Jessica Crowe Jul 2020

Explaining Popular Support For Wind Energy In The United States, Jessica Crowe

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

In the last 35 years, wind energy in the United States has transformed from being fringe and experimental to becoming a mainstream, viable, and efficient source of electricity. In this article, we compare wind energy acceptance to acceptance of other energy sources, in particular solar, coal, natural gas, and oil. Through an online survey of 1317 adults throughout the United States, we also examine the impact of individual- level characteristics such as gender, race, age, socio-political factors, and value orientation on a person’s support for renewable energy policy. We find that support for wind energy is higher than for fossil …


Notes From The Editorial Office (Volume 35, Issue 1), John J. Green Jun 2020

Notes From The Editorial Office (Volume 35, Issue 1), John J. Green

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

No abstract provided.


Predicting Support For Oil Industry Regulatory Policy Alternatives During The North Dakota Oil Boom, Curtis W. Stofferahn, Jessica Schad Jun 2020

Predicting Support For Oil Industry Regulatory Policy Alternatives During The North Dakota Oil Boom, Curtis W. Stofferahn, Jessica Schad

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

Given the lax regulatory response of the North Dakota state government during the most recent oil boom in the Bakken Shale, a better understanding of how to frame alternative regulation policies for the general public is needed. A survey of North Dakota residents in 2015 indicates that attitudes towards the oil industry, regulation, property rights, and messaging are associated with policy receptivity. Thus, in framing policy messages, focus should be on confirming what the public already knows about oil industry conduct and its opposition to regulation. Individuals who are more favorable to regulation and have an unfavorable attitude towards the …


Trust And Discourse: A Case Of Land-Use Conflict In Alachua County, Florida, Anne Saville, Alison Adams Apr 2020

Trust And Discourse: A Case Of Land-Use Conflict In Alachua County, Florida, Anne Saville, Alison Adams

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

Research on natural resources controversies such as land-use conversions has highlighted how stakeholder groups can have significantly different interpretations of the issue. Differing or opposing social values, political interests, and economic concerns play a large part in shaping how groups of people perceive a conflict. In these instances, opposing sides often use discursive frames to communicate their interests and garner support. While previous research has illustrated how frames are deployed in these cases, less is known about the role of trust in the context of frame resonance, especially when the frame deployer is a large corporation. We use the case …


Transformative Change In Rural Ethiopia: The Impact Of Small- And Medium-Scale Irrigation, Logan Cochrane, Anne Cafer Apr 2020

Transformative Change In Rural Ethiopia: The Impact Of Small- And Medium-Scale Irrigation, Logan Cochrane, Anne Cafer

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

Rural livelihoods in Ethiopia are vulnerable due to their reliance upon variable rainfall and the lack of access to irrigation. Irrigation coverage in the country is low, as the existing systems tend to cover state-run and commercial operations. There is significant potential for irrigation to play a transformative role in rural lives and livelihoods. Much of the evidence available in Ethiopia focuses upon technical studies of irrigation systems or impacts on households after gaining access to irrigation. This article highlights the causes and pathways of change. We focus on more financially-viable and environmentally-sound small- and medium-scale systems, versus the large-scale …


Minority Stress Among Gay And Bisexual Men In Agricultural Occupations, Michael C. Parent, Garrett M. Steede Mar 2020

Minority Stress Among Gay And Bisexual Men In Agricultural Occupations, Michael C. Parent, Garrett M. Steede

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

Research integrating the minority stress model and vocational behavior has used broad samples of sexual minority persons. Specific work contexts, particularly traditionally masculine work contexts, may be relevant areas to the integration of minority stress theory and vocational well-being. This study examined the relationship between workplace heterosexism and job satisfaction, as moderated by identity management and person-organization fit, among a sample of 114 sexual minority men, employed in agriculture, recruited from an online social network group. Contrary to prior research, integrating identity management did not moderate the relationship between workplace heterosexism and job satisfaction. Person-organization fit did moderate this relationship, …


Prospects For Commercialization Among Smallholder Farmers In South Africa: A Case Study, Christopher Ugochukwu Nwafor, Carlu Van Der Westhuizen Jan 2020

Prospects For Commercialization Among Smallholder Farmers In South Africa: A Case Study, Christopher Ugochukwu Nwafor, Carlu Van Der Westhuizen

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

The study explored determinants of commercialization among selected smallholder potato farmers in Bizana, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Increasingly presented as a rural development paradigm, the capability of many smallholders to commercialize is questioned. Fifty-eight smallholder farmers were purposively sampled for this study, which estimated farmers’ level of commercialization and identified factors contributing to their estimated engagement with markets. Structured questionnaires were used to obtain primary data from farmers, while reports from published materials were also reviewed. The study utilized the household commercialization index (HCI) and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model as its main analytical tools. It found …


Youth And Young Adults These Days: Perceptions Of Community Resources And Factors Associated With Rural Community Engagement, Wilson Majee, Adaobi Anakwe, Karien Jooste Jan 2020

Youth And Young Adults These Days: Perceptions Of Community Resources And Factors Associated With Rural Community Engagement, Wilson Majee, Adaobi Anakwe, Karien Jooste

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

Young people’s decisions to engage or disengage in community activities can be attributed to their perceptions of community resources and opportunities. This study examined South African rural young adults’ perceptions of their future communities and influences on engaging in health promoting activities and community leadership. Survey data were collected from 58 youth and 52 young adults affiliated with key community organizations. Correlational analysis examined perceptions of community resources and participation in community leadership. Perceptions about the future of their communities differed by age, educational attainment, employment status, and number of years spent in the community and were strongly correlated with …