Catch My Drift? Organic Farmers Perceptions and Experiences of Pesticide Drift in Montana
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Category
Social Sciences/Humanities
Abstract/Artist Statement
Through this thesis research, the researcher explains the perceptions and experiences that certified organic farmers in Montana have about accidental pesticide contamination, mainly in the form of drift. One-on-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with certified organic farmers from various regions of Montana. Participants were given space to share their concerns, experiences, and recommendations regarding pesticide contamination and the future of this research. Key themes distilled from the data include consequences, emotional toll, neighbor relations, and more significant systematic issues that stem from drift. This research shows that drift is a complex issue that varies from farmer to farmer. Across the participants in this study, it became clear that many organic farmers want to talk about these events and share their experiences with other farmers in hopes of helping to remediate these issues. The data also pointed out that drift incidents are the tip of the iceberg, or a jumping-off point, to investigate and discuss more significant issues regarding the organic system in its entirety, power concentration in the food system, and fear about pesticides existing in the ambient environment. Organic farmers need to have their voices heard regarding pesticide incidents. Their knowledge and emersion in these issues are unmatched, and this research shows just how integral that voice is. Along with one-on-one interviews with organic farmers, interviews with other food system stakeholders were conducted to better understand the policies and procedures that control what happens when drift occurs at the state level. A deeper understanding of the policy landscape is essential to offer policy changes and create important informational material to assist organic farmers who experience drift in the future.
Mentor Name
Caroline Stephens
Catch My Drift? Organic Farmers Perceptions and Experiences of Pesticide Drift in Montana
UC 326
Through this thesis research, the researcher explains the perceptions and experiences that certified organic farmers in Montana have about accidental pesticide contamination, mainly in the form of drift. One-on-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with certified organic farmers from various regions of Montana. Participants were given space to share their concerns, experiences, and recommendations regarding pesticide contamination and the future of this research. Key themes distilled from the data include consequences, emotional toll, neighbor relations, and more significant systematic issues that stem from drift. This research shows that drift is a complex issue that varies from farmer to farmer. Across the participants in this study, it became clear that many organic farmers want to talk about these events and share their experiences with other farmers in hopes of helping to remediate these issues. The data also pointed out that drift incidents are the tip of the iceberg, or a jumping-off point, to investigate and discuss more significant issues regarding the organic system in its entirety, power concentration in the food system, and fear about pesticides existing in the ambient environment. Organic farmers need to have their voices heard regarding pesticide incidents. Their knowledge and emersion in these issues are unmatched, and this research shows just how integral that voice is. Along with one-on-one interviews with organic farmers, interviews with other food system stakeholders were conducted to better understand the policies and procedures that control what happens when drift occurs at the state level. A deeper understanding of the policy landscape is essential to offer policy changes and create important informational material to assist organic farmers who experience drift in the future.