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BACKGROUND In China, there are a lack of well‐established relationships regarding farmers' behavior and participation in farmer organizations. The main objective of this study was to explore the effects and mechanisms of organizational participation in the joint control of pest and disease among kiwifruit growers (within the members of organizations). To fulfill this objective, the present study utilized survey data from 577 kiwifruit growers collected from Meixian County, Shaanxi Province, China. A combined method utilizing the instrumental variable (IV) ordered probit and bootstrap multiple mediation effect models were employed to determine the effects of participation by farmers' organizations in the joint control of pest and disease among kiwifruit growers. RESULTS A positive relationship was found between organizational participation and the joint control of pests and diseases. The empirical analysis of this study found that organizational support, organizational learning and organizational norms have mediating effects in the process of farmers' participation in the joint control of pests and disease. It is essential to go beyond individual behavior and tackle group decision‐making at the farm level. CONCLUSION This study found a positive effect of organizational participation in joint pest and disease control mechanisms. Moreover, whether the farm is situated in the demonstration zone for kiwifruit cultivation, planting experience, planting area, whether there are people in the family who are village cadres, and the number of older adults in the family significantly positively affect the degree of pest and disease control. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry

Improper handling of sick and dead pigs may seriously affect public health, socio-economic conditions, and eventually cause environmental pollution. However, effective promotion of sick and dead pig (SDP) waste recycling has become the prime focus of current rural governance. Therefore, the study explores the impact of commitment, rewards, and punishments to capture the recycling behavior of farmers’ sick and dead pig waste management. The study employs factor analysis, the probit model, and the moderating effect model to craft the findings. The study’s empirical setup comprises the survey data collected from the Hebei, Shandong, and Henan provinces, representing the major pig-producing provinces in China. The study found that the commitment, reward, and punishment mechanisms are essential factors affecting the farmers’ decision-making on recycling sick and dead pig waste. The marginal effect analysis found that the reward and punishment mechanism is more effective than the farmers’ commitment. The study confirmed that in the recycling treatment of sick and dead pig waste, the farmers’ commitment and the government’s reward and punishment policy are the main factors that influence farmers to manage sick and dead pig waste properly. Therefore, the government should highlight the importance of effective waste management, and training facilities should also be extended firmly. The government should impose strict rules and regulations to restrict the irresponsible dumping of farm waste. Monitoring mechanisms should be put in place promptly.

This article uses the data of 797 vegetable growers in Shouguang, Shandong Province, and the endogenous conversion model to investigate the impact of Internet use on household welfare. We select the per-mu vegetable yield, net income, and per capita net income of households as welfare indicators. The results show: ① Internet use can significantly improve the farmers' welfare effect. ②Under counterfactual assumptions, when farmers who use the Internet do not use it, the farmers' vegetable yield per mu, net income and household per capita net income will drop by 10.88%, 13.96% and 9.46%. When farmers who do not use the Internet use it, the farmers' vegetable output, net income and family per capita net income will rise by 13.62%, 16.66% and 11.64%. Internet use has the most excellent effect on the net income of vegetables, followed by the yield per mu, and the net income per household is the lowest. ③ Compared with small-scale farmers, Internet use has a better impact on the welfare of large-scale farmers, which also widens the welfare gap between farmers to a certain extent. Based on this, make suggestions to strengthen information infrastructure, improve information technology training, and adjust support policies promptly.