CONSTRAINTS LIMITING INNOVATION ADOPTION IN THE NORTH QUEENSLAND BEEF INDUSTRY .1. A SOCIOECONOMIC MEANS OF MAINTAINING A BALANCED LIFE-STYLE

Although technological innovations developed by research for the extensive beef industry may appear relevant and offer economic advantages, their lack of acceptance is of concern. This paper describes social and economic influences on the adoption behaviour of 68 cattle property managers in the Dalrymple and Bowen Shires of north Queensland, Australia. Managers were interviewed to test the general hypothesis that behaviour is a function of perceived reward at a particular place and time. Personal and situational variables influencing reward and behaviour varied inversely with the level of resources per production unit, and directly with economic scale, conceptual skill and level of pro-active management. However, reward influenced behaviour only when declining financial returns threatened environmental balance; and the reward differed for each innovation. Where there was a stable ecological balance, non-adoption was an intelligent response.