Local Dependency: the Independent Farmer Myth Eric Bruce Imerman Iowa State University

Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 1999 Local dependency: the independent farmer myth Eric Bruce Imerman Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Part of the Agricultural and Resource Economics Commons, Agricultural Economics Commons, Environmental Sciences Commons, and the Sociology of Culture Commons Recommended Citation Imerman, Eric Bruce, "Local dependency: the independent farmer myth " (1999). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 12570. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/12570 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter &ce, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reprodaction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely afifect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from Idt to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. UMI A Bell & Howell Information ConqiaiQr 300 Noith Zeeb Road, Ann Aibor MI 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 Local dependency: die independent fanner myth by Eric Bruce Imerman A dissertation submitted to die graduate faculty in partial fulfillment of die requirement for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Major Rural Sociology Major Professor Peter F. Korsching Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 1999 DM! Ntimber: 9924724 UMI Microform 9924724 Copyright 1999, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. » This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 ii Graduate Collie Iowa State University This is to certify that die Doctoral dissertation of Eric Bruce Imennan has meet the requirements of Iowa State University Signature was redacted for privacy. Signature was redacted for privacy. [ajor Program Signature was redacted for privacy. :e College iii TABLE OF CONTENTS USTOFnOURES v LIST OF TABLES vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS vii ABSTRACT viii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION I Thesis Statement 2 Management System Evaluation Areas 3 Dependency Theory 6 The Dissertation Journey 8 Dissertation Format 10 CHAPTER 2. ADOPTION AND DIFFUSION OF TECHNOLOGY AND THE DEPENDENCY THEORY 13 Adoption and History 13 Recent History 15 Structure and Adoption 17 Dependency Theory 19 Globalization of the World Economy 25 CHAPTERS. METHODOLOGY 28 Data Analysis 32 Barriers to die Adoption of Ridge Tillage 33 Barriers to Ae Adoption of Permanent Vegetative Filter Strips 35 Qualitative Methodology 37 Dependency Evidence 39 Qualitative Data 41 Dependency Indicators 42 CHAPTER 4. THE REAL DATA 45 Farmers Conunents 45 Data 46 Barrier One: The Technologies Require Excessive Capital Costs 46 Barrier Two: The Technologies are Inqjpropriate and Incompatible 57 Barrier Three: The Technologies Cause Increased Production Risks 65 Barrier Foun The Technologies are not an Effective Conservation Practice 73 Barrier Five: Government R^ulations 76 Barrier Six: Landlords 78 Summary 79 IV CHAPTER 5. LOCAL DEPENDENCY THEORY 82 Adoption and Diffusion History 83 Dq)enden(^ Theoiy 86 Local Fann Dq}endency 88 Modem Dq)endency 95 Local Dependency Applied 100 CHAPTER 6. MSEA CASE STUDY: FOLLOW-UP TO THE MSEA FOCUS GROUP STUDY 106 Fanners 108 Larry 109 Steve 110 Nells 111 Barriers and Findings 113 Sununary 123 CHAPTER?. RECOVERY STARTS WITH A SINGLE STEP 127 Research Questions 130 Local Dependency Theory 134 APPENDIX: GLOSSARY OF TERMS 137 BIBLIOGRAPHY 139 V LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Location of Fanners Participating in the Focus Groups 28 Figure 2. Agristructure [)ependency Cycle 102 vi LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Paiticipant Profile of the Six Focus Groups 30 Table 2. Iowa MAX Results for 1992 and 1993 31 Table 3. Bluegrass Watershed Data 32 Table 4. Baniers to the Adoption of Ridge Tillage 34 Table S. Positive Responses to Ridge Tillage 35 Table 6. Barriers to the Adoption of Vegetative Filter Strips 36 vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to diank die foUowing people for dieir help and patients while I was in grad- school; Bebing fliniya Maik Steve P. Peggy Renea Pete Bob BiU Richardo Mike Eric A. EricH. Wendy and Tony. viii ABSTRACT The purpose of tfiis dissertation is to achieve a higher level of ondastanding of the adoption and diffusion process of conservation technology on Iowa farms. The tools used in this discovery process are a qualitative analysis of farmers' perceptions of conservation technologies, an analysis of the adoption and difRision model, and the formulation of a local dq)endency theory to explain the patterns of adoption on Iowa farms. Specifically, this investigation comes to the conclusion diat die Iowa farmer is trapped in a dependency situation that is controlled by the government, trans-national corporations, and local capital, a triad known as the triple alliance. The resulting dependency hampers the adoption of technologies that do not benefit the triple alliance. The argument is based on an USDA funded study of mid-western farmers known as the Management Systems Evaluations Area project, or MSEA. The socio-economic portion of the study employed the focus group and case study methods of investigating farmers' reaction to the conservation technologies of ridge tillage and permanent vegetative filter strips. The studies revealed a dependency situation on the farm that was preventing the adoption of the two technologies. As a result, the dependency theory of international development was reformulated to the local level of abstraction to explain the adoption process in relation to conservation technology adoption. The use of dependency theory to explain the adoption of conservation technology overcomes the traditional shortcomings of the widely accepted adoption model that originates from the modernization theory of development and the concepts of rational choice and the free market The reformulation provides an understanding of the conservation technology adoption process that better fits the current sociopolitical situation of the Iowa fermers. I CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION "There isn't one grain ofanything in the world that is sold in a free markeL Not one! The only place you see a free market is in the speeches of the politicians." Dwsyne Andreas. CEO of die Archer Daniels Midland Co. (Carney 1995: 44) As social scientists we should find it di£Gcult to dispute the words of Dwayne Andreas. When we contemplate Mr. Andreas' remarks, when we consider that labor markets are controlled by governments and borders, and when we take into account that capital and money markets are taxed, regulated, and artificially supported globally, die concept of die firee market is no longer a suitable reality. In addition commodities in all their forms face tariffs, price supports, and any number of other price regulations. Given these realities, die concept of the fi'ee market should seemingly be totally alien to everyone. However, this is not the case. The social sciences and the field of economics base many of their theories and assumptions on the finee market The result is that social scientists not only receive, but also convey obscured pictures of what is really happening in the social world; something that good social theory application should prevent. The adoption and difi^usion model of technology adoption is a case in point Beginning widi the time of the Ryan and Gross seed com studies (1943), through Rogers' books on adoption and difiiision (1983, 1995), to modem proponents of adoption and difiiision such as Nowak (1983, 1987, 1992), the model has been based on the concept of the fiee market and the rational choice of the consumer. As consumers of any commodity move into a world of globalization where die economy is increasingly controlled and manipulated by trans-national corporations (TNCs), governments, and local capital, die adoption and diffusion model of technology adoption should be called into question. 2 Thesis Statement Assuming that in the modem ^stem of globalization there is no free market, especially in the business of agriculture, the possibility exists that diere is another tfaeory or model that better explains adoption and diffusion, or the lack of adoption and difiiision, than

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