When it comes to changing grain growers’ perceptions and motivating practice change on-farm United States agricultural academic Drew Lyon believes it doesn’t matter where in the world you are, the challenges are strikingly similar.
Professor Lyon is Endowed Chair of Small Grains Extension and Research, Weed Science in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at Washington State University and was in Toowoomba recently to compare strategies with Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) extension officers and key weed researchers.
While he said the weeds change from country-to-country, the process of getting growers to change how they perceive and then tackle the problem of weed management remains a universal challenge for those working in research and extension.
"What we have found is that the facts are not enough anymore when communicating messages.