Search

Purpose: To examine the influence of monitor farm programmes on practice change using the Irish BETTER farm sheep programme as a case study. Methodology: A mixed methods approach combining 16 semi-structured and 69 structured interviews with benchmarking data analysis. Findings: Provision of intensive, tailored advice helped support practice change on the participating monitor farms. They increased productivity through changes in management practices, which positively impacted on financial performance. Monitor farmers also positively influenced members of their associated discussion groups to make practice changes. Practical Implications: Practical recommendations for similar programmes are discussed such as the need for different and additional extension approaches to influence and support the adoption of more complex practices and the potential for greater input from farmers into the design and implementation of extension programmes. Theoretical Implications: From a practice change perspective evaluating the influence of a more structured participatory extension programme (PEP) on a participating farmer is easier than the evaluation of the influence of the PEP on the wider farming community, particularly when the evaluation is not incorporated into the original programme design. Originality: Adding to the relatively small number of PEP evaluations in developed countries, the influence of monitor farm programmes on both the monitor farmer and their associated discussion group peers is examined for a wide range of practices using a mixed methods approach.

In order to gain better insight into the distribution of white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) in Croatia, we pooled together all of the available historical and recent data. The historical data on distribution were compiled from literature and the Croatian Natural History Museum collection. Fieldwork, to evaluate the current distribution of crayfish, took place between 1995 and 2003. The distribution of Austropotamobius pallipes is restricted to the limestone region and therefore the species is found spread in rivers belonging to the Adriatic Sea basin (from NW to SE of Croatia). Those waters are mainly unpolluted and the substrate consists of rocks and stones and crayfish were found near banks. We also occasionally found crayfish in subterranean habitats but as they appear to have no troglomorphic adaptations they are probably of epigean origin. According to data taken from literature, both A. pallipes and A. torrentium live in the coastal rivers. But to date, we have not yet recorded presence of A. torrentium there, while we did record the presence of Astacus astacus. While studying the data from the literature, we were frequently confronted with contradictory findings, therefore, in the near future we are planning to do intensive field research within the coastal region in order to get a clearer picture of the detailed distribution of freshwater crayfish in this part of Croatia. In addition, individuals from four different geographical areas were compared using two morphometric and two meristic characteristics and the results are discussed.