MOTIVES AND BARRIERS TO INNOVATIONS IMPLEMENTATION IN CATTLE FARMS

The implementation of innovations into agricultural practice depends on many factors. These include, among others, farmers’ individual predispositions, especially the internal processes occurring in the human psyche, including predispositions, creative activity, willingness to take risks and motivations. The aim of the research is to determine the motives and barriers to introduce innovations in farms engaged in cattle breeding. The study was conducted from November 2022 to February 2023. Purposeful selection of the sample was used, and the farms engaged in cattle production, both milk and meat production, were selected for the study. The research was carried out in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. The auditorium survey method was used in the research. The sample of 329 respondents was analysed. The research found that the youngest, best-educated farmers and those running large farms were more motivated to introduce innovations than others. Farmers’ motives to implement innovative solutions were mainly related to the desire to improve management efficiency, the quality of production, the conditions in which production takes place, and reduce the negative impact on the natural environment.