Twelfth Global Studies Conference

Abstract

Agriculture in the United States has experienced drastic changes in recent decades due to technological advancements and globalization of farming activities, making the farm business increasingly competitive. This context has encouraged some farmers to adopt a new model of farming that incorporates entrepreneurial principles such as diversification, adoption of strategic planning, innovativeness, competitiveness, and multifunctionality. However, little research has been conducted on the importance of training and networking on the entrepreneurial success of famers. This study examines the entrepreneurial aspirations of South Dakota (SD) commodity crop producers, especially whether producers who consider engagement in frequent training and building social networks as important factors in their business success are motivated to think more entrepreneurially. It also examines the sociodemographic characteristics of farmers such as age, education level, and farm size as they relate to entrepreneurial aspirations. Surveys were sent to 3,000 SD commodity crop producers between January and March 2018. I find that the majority of SD crop producers are constantly seeking ways to grow and improve their businesses but also taking measures to protect the land they farm. Three out of four farmers agreed that they are often looking for ways to diversify their farm operations and remain competitive. The findings also show that age, education and farm significantly contribute to farmers’ adoption of entrepreneurship. They also influence the motivation of farmers to build social networks and seek training opportunities to become more innovative, increase their access to business opportunities, and maintain economic and environmental sustainability.