This paper analyses farming systems management on new cropping lands in East Lombok, Indonesia, and its applications for extension. This research was conducted using semistructured interviews with 41 farmer respondents managing new lands, and 27 key informants representing different viewpoints. A methodology that unifies the real-life choice theory of Gladwin (1980) and personal construct theory of Kelly (1955; 1991) was used to elicit relevant farmer decision information. By focusing on both behaviours and motivation, the approach was found to be effective in both describing farmer decisions and eliciting decision processes. It is concluded that productivity on new lands is low, but not because of lack of experience or irrational decision making by farmers. Contributing factors included deficiencies in water availability, soil structure and fertility, and an inability of research and extension services to provide solutions. These results highlight the need for a farming systems approach to research and extension that is farmer-centric in relation to both objectives and resources.