3
limited resource farm households Li north Florida.
The project cooperates with both research and extension efforts in the region. The project is operated by a interdisciplinary team consisting of social and agronomic scientists, local extension personnel, and research scientists from agricultural research stations and Gainesville.
The methodology employed by the project has five basic steps. They are: 1) identify specific problems within homogeneous farming systems on the basis of farm household input; 2) generate alternative solutions to those problems; 3) test promising solutions on farm; 4) evaluate acceptability of solutions; 5) disseminate acceptable alternatives to population. The most important evaluation criterion in the long run will be the numbers of farmers adopting the technology developed or validated by the FSR/E team.
The North Florida project began in 1980 when Peter
Hildebrand and Edwin French were given authority to organize a domestic farming systems project. U.S.D.A. support for the project was forthcoming. Selection of a region for research followed by a survey (Sondeo) of smaller-scale farms there was conducted in 1981. On farm testing began in the fall of that year. A Sondeo is a relatively inexpensive, informal interviewing technique conducted by interdisci lina__teams, designed to gather baseline information nn -farm characteristics and operational problems. Further details on the North Florida Proj i-it e providae- in-ensuing sections. For information on the Sondec technique, refer to Hildebrand (1979a).
FOOTNOTES
(1) The term "farm household" appropriately describes the north Florida farm unit, as decisions about farming are made within the context of a family household. Household and farm expenses are typically not distinguished; household labor, capital and other resources are critically integrated into the farm activities. Household membership is variable, ranging from single adult units to extended families sharing land, labor and capital.
"Farm" as used here refers to the production-economic activities, as used in the census.
"Farmers" is employed in this report when its use better fits the context.