Ethnic diversity and the patterned adoption of soil conservation in the strawberry hills of Monterey, California

Abstract

Extensive research over the past 50 years has concentrated on explaining the adoption of soil conservation practices in terms of individual farmer and farm firm characteristics. This article suggests an expanded approach in which the socioeconomic context of individual behavior is considered. Descriptive results from a survey of ethnically diverse strawberry farmers on erodible lands in California are used to develop a social model of conservation adoption. Anglo, Japanese, and Mexican farmers are shown to differ in terms of personal experience in the industry, farm business characteristics, information networks, and attitudes about farming. The concepts of knowledge systems and normative farm management styles are introduced as a framework for understanding the influence of ethnic historical context on current behavior. The implications of this model for resource conservation policy also are discussed. Recognition of the influence of social group membership is critical in the development of effective conservation programs and policies.

Key words:

• adoption
• ethnicity
• knowledge system
• limited resource farmers
• management style
• soil conservation
• strawberries