Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
The few LGU research scientists who have contributed to partnerships
report that participation brings them personal satisfaction for several
reasons, despite the professional and institutional disincentives. First,
and probably most important, partnerships provide them a group of rel-
atively open-minded growers who are willing to try risky, innovative
practices that improve environmental protection. These farmers have the
skills and disposition to successfully learn and implement sophisticated
experimental practices, and have an above average tolerance for risk.
The importance to these scientists of finding appropriate cooperative
growers should not be underestimated. Thus, growers and their organi-
zations enroll scientists in an agroecological initiative, while the scientists
simultaneously enroll the growers in his or her environmental science
research project. Second, some scientists like taking on an applied pro-
fessional challenge. Based on his success in disrupting the codling moth
in pears, Stephen Welter was successfully wooed by the Walnut Board to
work with them, and he wanted to see if he could extend this success fur-
ther. He was intrigued by the difficulties of adapting an approach that
worked in pears to the more challenging walnut farming system. Another
suggested that scientists want to work on systems that are not well
understood; this work is more interesting, and perhaps more scientifi-
cally valuable. Third, partnerships offer them an opportunity to
contribute to efforts to reduce pesticides. “Reducing pesticide use,” one
scientist said, “gets me up in the morning.” Many contemporary agricul-
tural scientists entered their profession with environmental values, but
find that the demands of their position do not easily lend themselves to
working on pesticide reduction. In addition, commodity organization
sponsored projects have the ability to reach every grower in the state
with newsletters and bulletins explaining low input practices. Their
personal orientation and professional training provide them unique
skills, but they must step out of their designated roles within the science
hierarchy to put them to use in partnerships.
LGU scientists report that practical, applied work in agriculture can
have a detrimental effect on their professional reputation within the
academy, and they have to carefully manage their scientific reputations.
Welter counsels his graduate students to defer their interest in practical
research: “I don't recommend it for my students, because 'they can't
afford it' yet. And if they choose to do that on their own, then that's their
